New Forest library’s milestone
CELEBRATIONS have been held to mark the 10th anniversary of Milford’s community library.
Operating from the village hall on Park Road, the volunteer-run library is open Mondays and Tuesdays from 2pm to 4pm, and on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays from 10am to 12noon with book sales held on the second Saturday of every month.
Milford community library was originally supported by Hampshire County Council, which provided the stock and weekly support. However, it became fully independent in 2021 and now relies on monthly book sales and other fundraising activities to stay open.
Generous donations of books and jigsaws from the community help to ensure the stock is regularly updated.
Volunteers, supporters and regular users joined together for a party to mark the milestone anniversary.
Attendees included library committee members Jill Neill, Liz Everard, Jane Cathcart, Jenny McArthur, Jan Pell, Sue Cheek and Clare Kelly; county councillor Fran Carpenter, district councillor David Hawkins and parish councillor Peter Jennions.
Chair of the Milford Village Association, Gloria Grantham-Hill, and representatives from Knit and Natter, Rainbows and Milford Historical Society also joined the celebrations.
Guests shared a bookworm cake cut by Ms Grantham-Hill, who praised Jill and Liz and all the volunteers for their achievements. In turn, the Milford Village Association was thanked for its ongoing support, especially in the first year when it waived the rent, allowing the library committee the opportunity to raise funds.
Thank you gifts were presented to Gloria, Jill and Jenny McArthur, who was also thanked for raising over £1,000 in the last year by selling surplus books online.
The library features sections devoted to fiction, audiobooks, non-fiction and children’s titles, as well as a well-stocked jigsaw puzzle collection. Other regular activities include the Knit and Natter (Monday 2pm to 4pm); the Stroke Recoverers’ Talking Group (Wednesday 10am to 12noon) and pop-in coffee morning (Thursday 10.30am to12noon).
To find out more visit www.facebook.com/mosclibrary
