Library relaunches as town council takes over

Mayor Ian Perry and town clerk Jo Reay are among those who have worked to relaunch the service

A library has relaunched under the control of its local town council, in a deal to save it from local authority spending cuts.

Telford & Wrekin Borough Council is passing the running of several libraries, including Newport, to town and parish councils.

Newport mayor Ian Perry said: "[I'm] relieved more than anything. It was only six months ago that Telford & Wrekin came to us and said 'we're closing the library.'"

He said the full transfer would be a gradual process over the next couple of years.

The library will remain part of the borough-wide library service, with common membership cards across the area.

The town council has said it will move its own public inquiries service to the library from the Guildhall, as well as continuing to deal with borough council business like blue disability badges and concessionary bus passes.

The town council hopes to broaden the range of services available at Newport library

Town clerk Jo Reay said: "We realised very quickly that it was possible that we could take over the library, and then we started to get very excited about what the library could become."

She hoped that the number of groups and events in the building would increase, "to bring people into the library and make it a very, very worthwhile community space."

Tuesday's launch event included activities for children on their Easter holidays.

Librarian Kirsty Finchett, who has been at the branch for more than 10 years, said it was important to reach people of all ages.

"It doesn't matter who you are - it's a leveller.

"There's no expectation of spending any money, of anyone asking what you're doing. You can just come in and be somewhere warm, take some books, do a jigsaw, use the computers."

Kirsty Finchett has been librarian for more than a decade

Opening hours will remain unchanged, from 10:00 until 17:00 on Monday and Tuesday, 09:00 to 16:00 on Thursday and 09:30 to 13:00 on Saturdays.

The town council said it was seeking grants to improve the premises, which may result in their temporary closure at some point.