Library Provision – changes affecting Chiseldon Residents
We have always had either a library or a mobile library in the Chiseldon Parish area. We lost the library in the old school building in New Road a number of years ago and this was replaced by a mobile library service, calling twice a week. Due to the Borough Council cut backs this service will be withdrawn towards the end of March. The last visits will be on Saturday 25th March and Thursday 30th March. Any residents that use the mobile library, will need to act now and either change to going to Wroughton Library or the Central Library in Swindon. Residents who have difficulty in carrying books can apply for the home library service to deliver books to their home. Users of the mobile library should contact Gwyneth Dilly on 01793 465625 or 465555, email gdilly@swindon.gov.uk. We are under the impression that people will get a letter and a notice of order to return items to the mobile library.
Changes will take place at Wroughton Library from early April, where the Wroughton Parish Council will be taking over the library provision, but we are not sure if it will stay in the current building or move to the Ellendune Centre. The number of hours that the library is open will be cut back to 15 hours a week.
If you are required to change your library card from the mobile library to Wroughton library, please contact the librarians, Jan, Jane or Alison on 01793 798112. Current opening hours are: 10.00am-8.00pm on Mondays and Fridays, 10.00am-5.00 Tuesdays and Thursdays and 10.00-1.00pm on Saturdays and it is closed all day on Wednesdays.
Now that the No81 bus runs between Chiseldon and Wroughton, people are able to get to Wroughton Library using public transport.
Chiseldon Parish Council are looking into the provision of a “drop off” point, so that residents can collect or drop off their books. We are open to ideas from residents in the Chiseldon Parish area.
The other 15 libraries across Swindon will all reduce in hours to 15 hours a week other than the Central Library which will be open for 47 hours a week. These libraries will now carry on until August 2017, leaving the core libraries of Central, Highworth, West Swindon, North Swindon and Parks as the only libraries run by SBC. The other 10 need local groups, community associations or parish councils to take over running these libraries after this date, or they will close.
Wroughton Parish Council is taking on its library as a Community Library with a librarian in post when it is open, but it will be looking for library volunteers to help and possibly to extend the hours it is open.
The home library co-ordinator is Anish Harrison on 01793 465495 or email home.library@swindon.gov.uk.
Cllr David Hill. Chiseldon Parish Council.