Community Managed Libraries Map

The Community Libraries Network has created a map of community libraries across England & Wales.
You can use this map to find one of the 500+ CMLs that are local to you, or to look into those from further afield that may share similar features and services.

View the Map

The information currently recorded for each CML includes:

• Name
• Location/Postcode
• Website
• Contact Telephone
• Local Authority
• Incorporation (if available)
• CML ‘Model’
• Deprivation Ranking
• Network ‘Group’*

The map is continually being updated, so please get in touch if you have suggested additions or amendments.
If you are aware of any omitted CMLs that are currently active, please contact us at info@communitylibrariesnetwork.org to discuss.

*Community libraries are separated into 3 regional groups, related to their geographical area:
Group One: London & South-East (Chris Neath – Network Manager)
Group Two: South West, West Midlands, East Midlands and Wales (Regional Network Co-ordinator TBC)
Group Three: North & North-Midlands (Paul Kelly – Regional Network Co-ordinator)

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Playlist for Life

Surrinder Bains, Communities Officer from Playlist for Life, gave CMLs an introduction to their services and how community libraries can get involved to support people with dementia, their family or their carers.

Any organisation that can provide free advice, support or activity to people affected by dementia are invited to apply to be a ‘Help Point’.
Help Points can be a physical location where people can pick up leaflets and materials about making a personalised playlist, but many organisations have found new ways of connecting with their service users over the phone or digitally with technology such as Zoom. No matter how you reach your community, there are multiple ways for you to set up your Help Point and share the power of personal music.

Playlist for Life provide a range of FREE resources to help users to create their own personalised playlists and to understand the benefits.

Find Out More

Playlist for Life – Get Involved!

info@playlistforlife.org.uk

Network Meeting – February 2023

The next Community Libraries Network Meeting will be held online on Thursday 23rd February at 11:00am.

In this meeting, we will be covering:

• Introductions
• Feature: Emily Jewell (Arts Council)
• Network Updates
• CML Feature: Deborah Lamb (Old Town Library, Swindon)
• Discussion Groups

If there are any other topics which you would like to be covered, please email info@communitylibrariesnetwork.org.

Register for Free

Greenhill Community Library – An Introduction

Chris Brown, vice-chairman and the overall events lead at Greenhill Community Library, joined us at our January 23 Network meeting to tell us more about the Sheffield based community library.

As an “associate” library of Sheffield City Libraries, Greenhill is funded through a combination of a grant from the council, occasional smaller grants and awards, and their own fundraising.
They offer a range of services and events, from talks, cinema showings and coding to farmers markets and ‘open gardens’.

Book circulation is managed through Koha library management system and 60% of their issues are made up from “Yellow Sticker” books which are donated or bought from their own funds.

Greenhill Community Library has an excellent track record of engaging with their community, including through a Friends of Scheme which raises funds for the organisation also giving voting rights to “Friends” at Annual General Meetings.

If you would like to connect with Greenhill Community Library to chat further or to arrange a visit, please contact Chris Neath: info@communitylibrariesnetwork.org

Find Out More

Greenhill Community Library – Presentation

www.greenhill-library.org/

admin@greenhill-library.org

Network Meeting – January 2023

The next Community Libraries Network Meeting will be held online on Monday 23rd January at 11:00am.

In this meeting, we will be covering:

• Introductions
• Feature: Surinder Bains (Playlist for Life)
• Network Updates
• CML Feature: Chris Brown (Greenhill Community Library)
• Discussion Groups

If there are any other topics which you would like to be covered, please email info@communitylibrariesnetwork.org.

Register for Free

December Newsletter & Network Meeting

Community Libraries Network Newsletter

Our December newsletter is live, you can find it here to read updates and information about the Community Libraries sector: https://bit.ly/3BqeFgr

Sign up to receive future editions of our monthly newsletter here: http://eepurl.com/hlJ3Kn

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Network Meeting – December 2022

The next Community Libraries Network Meeting will be held online on Tuesday 20th December @ 10:30am.

As December is such a busy month for everyone, particularly with so many exciting activities and services happening in CMLs, we’ve decided to host a shorter discussion session this month.

This is open to all, please bring topics, thoughts and ideas or issues you may be facing for discussion.

If there are any other topics which you would like to be covered, please email info@communitylibrariesnetwork.org.

Register for Free

Network Meeting – Tomorrow

The next Community Libraries Network Meeting will be held online on Wednesday 30th November @ 10:30am.

In the November meeting, we will be covering:

• Introductions
• Feature: Alison Broadley (Good Things Foundation)
• Network Updates
• CML Feature: Carl Stevens (Denton West End Library)
• Discussion Groups

Sign Up – FREE

If there are any other topics which you would like to be covered, please email info@communitylibrariesnetwork.org

If you are unable to join the meeting live, please register and we will circulate a recording of the meeting afterwards.

November Newsletter & Network Meeting

Community Libraries Network Newsletter

Our November newsletter is live, you can find it here to read updates and information about the Community Libraries sector: http://bit.ly/3A7HOwk

Sign up to receive future editions of our monthly newsletter here: http://eepurl.com/hlJ3Kn

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Network Meeting – November 2022

The next Community Libraries Network Meeting will be held online on Wednesday 30th November @ 10:30am.

In the November meeting, we will be covering:

• Introductions
• Feature: Alison Broadley (Good Things Foundation)
• Network Updates
• CML Feature: Carl Stevens (Denton West End Library)
• Discussion Groups

If there are any other topics which you would like to be covered, please email info@communitylibrariesnetwork.org.

Register for Free

Harbury Village Library as a Community Recycling Hub

Richard Fowler, Volunteer Library Lead at Harbury Village Library, has produced an overview of how they provide recycling facilities for their community. You can read more about the background to this work, the initiatives that the library is involved in, and how & what recycling facilities are actually provided.

If you would like to find out more about how to adopt similar practices in your community library, please get in touch via: info@communitylibrariesnetwork.org

harbury-village-library-as-a-community-recycling-hubDownload

Supporting Communities & Vulnerable People this Winter

The impact of increased cost of living is affecting CMLs and their users with increases in utility bills, material costs, food and other resources. Despite recent government measures to reduce the impact of spiralling energy bills, many households and businesses still face a huge challenge this winter.

We have put together a briefing note, highlighting the important role that Community Managed Libraries play in supporting people this winter:

supporting-communities-vulnerable-people-this-winterDownload