Libraries at 'heart of community' a decade after cuts

Susannah Brewer says Upperthorpe Library has become a community hub

Ten years after volunteers stepped in to run 16 of Sheffield's libraries when the council cut £1.6m from the service those in charge say they are thriving.

No longer just a place to borrow a book the sites once threatened with closure now offer community services from weighing babies to access to cheap food.

Volunteers say the libraries have evolved into community hubs, supporting people with everything from the cost of living to their mental wellbeing.

As new BBC analysis showed that across the country more more than 180 council-run libraries have either closed or been handed over to volunteer groups in the UK since 2016, BBC Radio Sheffield spoke to two people helping to keep their library open.

Volunteer Judith Pitchforth in the garden of Broomhill Library

When Sheffield City Council announced plans to cut the budget for its library service and shut more than a dozen sites there was a public outcry.

More than 10,000 people signed a petition opposing the plan before, eventually, a plan was agreed for the council to retain 11 sites as well as the Central Library with the remaining 16 to be run by community groups.

Judith Pitchforth was at Broomhill Library on the very first day volunteers took over and is still there.

“We were given the opportunity to put something back in the community and, faced with the budget deficit that Sheffield had at the time, it was quite a brave move because it involved a lot of negotiations with unions and other people.

“Communities came together and we are still going strong, but there are challenges for some libraries.

“Sheffield Council organised the libraries so five of them became co-delivered. The council pays for everything, apart from the staff, and Broomhill was very lucky to be the fifth one on the list.

“Because we are co-delivered if the roof leaks, we call the council. That isn't the case for 11 other libraries in the city, they have to pay their own repair bills.”

She said technology can be a challenge as people switch to e-books but libraries have evolved to offer other services.

“We have a weekly baby weighing session in association with the NHS so mums can see the nurse," she said.

“Our latest project is wellbeing, because reading is statistically shown to make you feel better, and we have links with social prescribers because it’s about reading to make yourself well."

Susannah Brewer (left) with volunteers at Upperthorpe library

Susannah Brewer works with volunteers at Upperthorpe Library, many of whom were part of the original campaign in 2014 to save the library.

It is based at Zest, which also houses a leisure centre and swimming pool as well as the Foodworks Café, which offers affordable meals, and a Citizens Advice access point. As a result the library is not responsible for funding its own repairs or utility bills.

Ms Brewer said: “We have a fantastic, diverse local community and we are really proud to be working here.

“It’s area of quite high deprivation and we do find it quite difficult to recruit volunteers but we've had a bit of a flurry recently so we're really pleased with how that's going."

Upperthorpe Library also offers literacy sessions and has a book club which helps people learn English.

“Libraries have always been places people feel they can own and they are community hubs these days," Ms Brewer said.

"The good thing is people are coming in. A father proudly told me that his son's first word was library because he loved coming so much.

“Libraries are still very much needed, people have less cash to buy books but it’s also about accessing printing and photocopying services and the computers. Digital inclusion is very important, as well as the community services we offer.

“Volunteering here is a lovely way to be at the heart of the community.”

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