Braunton crowned South West Library of the Year

Braunton Library's knit and natter group says the space is a community hub

A small library in North Devon is celebrating after being crowned the South West Library of the Year.

Braunton Library was singled out in the British Book Awards 2025 for its creativity and work in the community.

The library hosts numerous groups, including a Lego club for children, knit and natter and coffee and crochet groups for adults, as well as creative writing sessions.

The library has now been automatically put forward for the British Book Awards 2025 national finals at a ceremony in London on 12 May.

'Out in the wilds'

In the South West category, Braunton was one of four finalists run by Libraries Unlimited, the charity that operates libraries in Devon and Torbay.

Braunton Library has 1,589 members and receives about 24,500 visits per year. It hosts about 300 events, with an attendance of about 3,000 per year.

The library is open six days a week with the help of volunteers, who also help raise money for the charity which operates it.

Brian Gilbert, chairman of the Friends of Braunton Library, said the team was delighted with the title of South West Library of the Year.

"It's fantastic that a little library like ours out in the wilds of north Devon can win an award like that," he said.

Wendy Cotton uses Braunton Library as part of the knit and natter group.

Mrs Cottons said she has an illness which means she is unable to go out much but said she loved the library because "it's somewhere I can come and have a laugh and have a great time".

The British Book Awards, also known as The Nibbies, is run by The Bookseller magazine.

As a regional winner, Braunton Library is now automatically in the running for finals.

The British Book Awards will take place at Grosvenor House, London, on Monday 12 May when the overall Library of the Year winner will be announced.