East Preston Library celebrates golden anniversary

While libraries in other parts of the country have been facing the prospect of closure, in the wake of council cutbacks, East Preston’s library, in The Street, has gone from strength to strength.

The village institution will be celebrating its golden anniversary with a special display depicting its 50 years of history, since it opened on January 18, 1962.

Martin Hayes, county local studies librarian, said: “The library is at the heart of the community.

“It’s very well placed, in the middle of the village, so the staff get to know the readers very well – they are on first-name terms with most of them.

“We have just gone through a review and we are determined to keep as many small libraries open despite spending cuts.”

The library first opened in 1927 at the former YMCA building in the village, before moving to its purpose-built home erected in 1962.

Martin said that in 1937, the village’s library had a small membership of only 46 people. Now it totals just under 2,000.

The anniversary event is from 2pm to 4pm. For more information, call 01903 786118.