On Friday (12 September) Yaxley Library celebrated 50 years of serving the community, providing visitors with books and much more since 1975.
Members of the library service past and present, councillors and local partners gathered at the library to celebrate the milestone, with balloons, refreshments, a photo display of Yaxley Library through the ages, and a few words from Councillor Alison Whelan, Chair of the Communities, Social Mobility and Inclusion committee at Cambridgeshire County Council.
In 1975 “Bye Bye Baby” by The Bay City Rollers was the UK’s biggest-selling single, Jaws packed out the cinemas, and Yaxley Library opened its doors for the first time. 50 years on and Yaxley Library has played a key role in the village’s identity ever since – supporting visitors of all ages to come together for social connection and to engage with culture and creativity.
Prior to the library opening in 1975, a mobile library visited various locations in the village, but such was the demand and enthusiasm from residents that a library building was planned. Interest was justified when on opening day a plea for more books was made to other libraries – more than half of the library’s books were issued on day one!
Now, Yaxley Library welcomes more than 1,500 visitors each month and issues around 24,000 books a year, with crime and mystery, cookery, and even dinosaurs the most popular genres amongst borrowers – reflecting the diverse and vibrant communities the library serves.
Since opening in 1975, Yaxley Library has evolved and expanded its services to meet the changing needs of residents. In 2003, the library took part in an innovative project known as The People’s Network, a government initiative which introduced computers to public libraries to equip the UK for the information age.
Earlier this year, the library was refurbished to provide an exciting refresh for visitors and improve the building’s accessibility.
Transforming the library over the years has enabled staff, volunteers and the community to hold more workshops and events - including The Library Presents, an exciting programme of arts and culture events shaped by communities, and even a visit from the Olympic torch in 2012 on its route around the country.
Councillor Alison Whelan said: “For 50 years Yaxley Library has provided a vital service for the local community. It is a vibrant and welcoming space for everyone – whether you want to browse the shelves, borrow a book or two, or get involved in a variety of events and activities, including the ever-popular Rhymetime and board games clubs.
"Our libraries are hugely valued by the communities they serve, and that's why as a county council we're investing in our libraries to ensure they continue to meet the needs of residents. Yaxley Library was the first to benefit from this investment, and the improved accessibility and new layout will benefit residents for years to come.
“The refreshed Yaxley Library is now an even more welcoming and comforting place for people to visit, and it’s lovely to see people of all ages and backgrounds visiting for books and so much more.”
Leigh Paget, Community Library Assistant for Cambridgeshire Libraries said: "I feel very fortunate to work in Yaxley Library.
“There is a real community feel, and I love getting to know our customers and being able to help them in any way that I can. It is great to interact with the wider community, such as school and class visits, to encourage the children to come along to the library.
“Building these relationships with our customers is important to be able to provide a welcoming and friendly library space for everyone to enjoy.”
More information can be found at www.cambridgeshire.gov.uk/libraries.
