Community Managed Libraries handover in Derby

Committing to its pledge that no library in the city will close, Derby City Council has signed agreements with Direct Help and Advice (DHA) confirming the local charity’s plans to run all ten proposed Community Managed Libraries.

The signed grant and management agreements will ensure the library is supported to continue running the core services customers currently receive, as well as adding additional services currently only accessible in Derby city centre.

DHA will ensure that each Community Managed Library will provide a high quality, traditional library offer, using an annual grant of £175,000 from Derby City Council to cover costs needed to run the service, with £55,000 of that funding to be used to buy books and audio books. The organisation will also have access to a one-off grant of £114,750 for all ten libraries involved in the project, which will last until March 2022.

Amo Raju, cabinet member for Leisure, Culture and Tourism, said: “I’m extremely pleased to be signing these agreements with DHA and am confident it will lead to strong and successful library services for communities across the city. Our job is to make Derby an even greater place to live, work and visit which is why protecting Derby’s libraries from closure is one of the key 50 council pledges we have made. Keeping this promise and developing a modern and sustainable service for library users will ultimately help us raise the achievement and skills of local people in the future.”