THERE was a good attendance at Holsworthy Library on Saturday, April 23, for coffee, tea and cakes to celebrate the launch of Libraries Unlimited, writes Christine Williams.

Libraries Unlimited are a new mutual organisation, which on April 1, took over the running of all Devon libraries. After a few words of welcome from librarian, Jackie Parrish, Joan Brock was invited to cut a celebratory cake.

Mrs Brock was a librarian in the old library on Chapel Street back in the 1960s and, as she put it, ‘moved with the books’ when the present library building was opened in 1967.

The coffee morning event coincided with World Book Night, an annual celebration of reading and books, and there were a number of free books available to take away. The library staff took the opportunity to publicise not just their fantastic selection of books but also the wide range of facilities and services on offer.

Devon County Councillor Barry Parsons (Cons) said how important it had been to keep open the library in such an isolated and fast growing community as Holsworthy.

A ‘Friends of Holsworthy Library’ group of volunteers has recently started and it is hoped it will provide practical support for the library an opportunity to share ideas and activities with like-minded people.