How it all got started

A History of Stalbridge Community Managed Library
Stalbridge Library opened its doors in the 1980s managed and staffed by Dorset Library Service.  The staff were always pleasant and helpful and the local residents appreciated the service given.

In 2007, when the library was managed by Carolyn Talbot, closure of the library, along with several other small Dorset libraries, was threatened due to lack of funding.
A protest was organised to save the library. 

A group was formed called “The Friends of Stalbridge Library” led by Tim Lee, Claire Fincham, Alan Chalcroft, and Carolyn Talbot. 
Supporters paid a subscription of £5.00 (£8.00 couple) annually, and this remains the same to date 

  Meetings and negotiations lasted a few years but thanks to the hard work and commitment of the Friends, support of both Stalbridge Town Council (including  their purchase of the building for £1.00) and the Dorset Library service, plus a number of people volunteering to help, in 2012 it was agreed that Stalbridge would become community managed.   

                           A group of the “Friends” formed a Library Management Group to organise day to day running of the library, and use of funds to benefit the library.  This comprised Chairman, Treasurer, Secretary, Volunteer Co-ordinator, and Library Manager - - - all voluntary positions.

In 2013 Stalbridge Community Managed Library opened its doors to the public with books supplied by Dorset Library Service and staffed by volunteers who had undergone training by DLS. 
They were supported by DLS employee, Petra Peters, who visited for a few hours per week, dealing with finance and any problems - - and this continues to date. 

  The volunteer Library Manager was Maggie Bather who had retired and moved to Stalbridge for a peaceful life! Maggie gave excellent service to the library dealing with day to day physical and internet management, cleaning the library and organising the shelving, etc. until handing over ‘the reins’ to Margaret Jackson in May 2022. 
​The library owes, and extends grateful thanks to Maggie for all her efforts over those years in making Stalbridge Library such a success.

The Library now celebrates a 10th Birthday in 2023.  Still staffed and managed by volunteers (battling with technology and keeping up with legislation).  Still open for most of the original sessions despite the dreaded covid.  Still supported by Stalbridge Town Council and Dorset Library Service.
 
Stalbridge Community Managed Library wishes to extend grateful thanks to so many people who supported saving the library, and keeping it open for the last ten years.

Special thanks go to:
Tim and Sue Lee, Barry and Ann Russell, Claire Fincham, Alan and Ingrid Chalcroft, Claire Templeman, Christine Peters, Ann Mendelson, Maggie Bather, Jennie Hodgson, Debbie Quick, Danny Hine, who were there at the beginning and got us started.

Stalbridge Town Council for their continuing support.  Special thanks to Graham Carr-Jones who was there from the beginning.
Dorset Library Service for their continuing support. 
Special thanks to Petra Peters.
To all the Friends of Stalbridge Library.
To all the Stalbridge Community Library Management Group past and present.
And finally, but not least, thank you to all the Library Volunteers who give their time to greeting and helping all visitors to the library, and maintaining good standards.
 
THANK YOU ALL
Written by Carol Blakesmith