First community library opens (From Daily Echo)
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Hampshire's first community library opens
3:10pm Thursday 24th January 2013 in News
Cllr Rob Humby, manager Jool Heller-Dixon, leader of the council Ken Thornber, Cllr Keith Chapman and Colin Smith.
HAMPSHIRE’S first community-run library has opened.
County council leader Ken Thornber opened Stanmore Community Library at The Carroll Centre in Somers Close, Winchester.
Centre staff have been working on the project for a year after the county closed Stanmore’s previous branch in December after deciding it was underused.
The county invested £30,000 in refurbishing the building and buying its books.
The previous branch in Wavell Way was one of the smallest in Hampshire, costing £36,000 per year to run, with an average of 106 borrowers a month.
Volunteers have been recruited to run the library while it also has a self-service machine.
The new library is open from 10am to 2.30pm from Monday to Friday, except on Wednesdays when it closes at the later time of 5pm.
