An explanation of  Milborne Port Library and The Friends of Milborne Port Library. 

In 2010, The Friends of Milborne Port Library (FOMPL) formed to protest against the planned closure of Milborne Port and 13 other Somerset Libraries. We succeeded in keeping all Libraries open.

In 2018, thirteen County Libraries were moved into Community Library Partnerships by the County Council, their latest County Council money saving scheme. The Friends changed to a  registered Charity so we could be the village part of the partnership, Somerset County Council being the other party.  The county passed various costs down to village level such as staff and building costs.  The Friends liaise with the Library Staff, County and Parish Councils to ensure the smooth functioning of the arrangements

The current situation: Under the Partnership the County gave the Friends an outgoing mobile Library as a temporary Library, whilst awaiting the build of a community hub.  It was parked in East Street car park but the Library moved into the Town Hall Downstairs ‘Community Room’ late 2022 to save on power costs, while being a much more agreeable location.  This Community Room is used 3 times a week by the Library.

The future: The build of the Community Hub off Wheathill Lane is a Parish Council Initiative, the hub to be rented to the PC under a peppercorn rent but built and owned by a property developer as part of approval for the housing estate adjacent to Wheathill Way. Administration of this Building is being organised by the PC, Library Friends and History & Heritage Group, who plan to run the hub as a library while displaying village artefacts.

We keep the whole community informed via a monthly report in the monthly Village Magazine , on the village website (www.milborneport.org.uk), on Notice Boards, facebook and in the Library. 

The Library itself is a basic book lending organisation, but you can order books from several counties, and on Saturdays there is often a variety of children’s activities: Lego, Easter Games, seed swap, games, colouring, storytime & craft. Also, on Fridays the Glovelies (formerly WI) offer coffee at the same time as the library is open and this is developing into a popular event.

Many thanks to other village organisations for their financial and moral support.

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