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Colehill Community Library, our charming and friendly ‘library in the woods’, has flourished since becoming a community run service in 2013. It runs a fully featured library service on our doorstep, as well as providing a friendly, social and informative hub for residents.
You can browse the books, magazines, newspapers, large print books and other items in the library building itself. Members of the Dorset Library Service can borrow books with the added advantage that you can collect and return your borrowed items within walking distance of your home. The Dorset Library Service is part of a partnership of libraries in the south west of England which means you have access to any of the 145 public libraries across the consortium to borrow, return, renew and reserve items, and use the computers to access the internet. You get access to a joint catalogue of around 2.5 million items including books, DVDs, spoken word, music CDs, printed music, maps and language materials. Your membership card can also be used to access a range of e resources including e books and e audio books. Moreover, Colehill Community library has added a locally run jigsaw loan service. You can even request to get an email telling you when your reservation is ready for collection and a timely reminder when it is due for renewal. And it’s all free.
In addition, there are also a range of regular group activities. They include special interest groups – Colehill Reading group, and a Family History group which benefits from the library’s free access to the Ancestry website. For the youngest members there is TODDLER TIME Stories and Rhymes. And there are the ever popular and bookable IT One to One Sessions. There is no charge but donations to the Library are always welcome.
For more details pop in, follow the Library pages above, see our Newsletter on the News page or visit our Facebook page.
History
There have been libraries in Colehill for nearly 100 years. The first was opened in the Parish Hall in 1913 and founded by Henrietta Vaughan Williams (niece to the composer), then organist at St. Michael’s Church.
The present Colehill Library building opened as a branch library of the Dorset County Council Library Service in February 1974. It began with a selection of 5000 books, including selections for children and large-print volumes for the partially sighted.
When threatened with closure, The Friends of Colehill Library worked with Dorset Council, Colehill Parish Council and others to keep the library open. Through the hard work and determination and a lot of volunteer effort the library opened as COLEHILL COMMUNITY LIBRARY on 8th January 2013. On 4th April 2014 the ‘Friends’ (FoCoL) merged with Colehill Community Library Ltd.; the ‘Friends’ activities with fundraising continue, and supporters can now join Colehill Community Library Ltd. as company members. The Library is a limited company with charity status.
On 7th June 2016 the Dorset Library Service joined the ‘LibrariesWest’ group giving our library access to resources across the South West of England.
Data Protection
From May 2018 the new Data Protection Act (GDPR) will come into force. This will bring in new regulations on how organisations can contact their supporters. These changes are to protect you from unwanted contact.
We look after any personal information you share with us.
We may collect information from you when you enquire about becoming a Colehill Community Library supporter, a member of Colehill Community Library Ltd (this is not the same as joining Dorset Library Service [Libraries South West]) or a volunteer or purchasing tickets for a library event.
As a supporter you will receive notice of the release date of our bi-monthly Newsletter, and a reminder when your renewal is due.
As a member of the Company you will also receive an invitation to the AGM.
As a volunteer you will also receive emails from the co-ordinator about your library duties.
We do not share personal information with anyone at any time without your express permission.
The only exceptions to this are:-
- our legal obligation to share your name, house number, postcode, date and amount of your subscription/donation with HMRC if you are in the gift aid scheme.
- our legal obligation to share your name and address with our accountants if you are a member of Colehill Community Library Ltd.
If you would like to be reminded about what information you have shared with the Library, email us, entering DATA PROTECTION ENQUIRY in the subject box. Alternatively write to DATA PROTECTION REQUEST, Colehill Community Library, Middlehill Road, Colehill, BH21 2HL.
Community Support
Colehill Community Library would like to acknowledge and thank the following for their invaluable support in setting up, running and promoting our local jewel of a community activity:
Copyrite Business Solutions Ltd
Lyn Nelsey of ALL About The Cake, Wimborne
Alan Tong of ATM Window Cleaning
Andy & Marilyn Bean of The Card Gallery, Wimborne
Tom Holder of Colehill Electrics Ltd
Colehill Parish Council
Dorset Council
Friends of Colehill Library
Mike Hayter, Carpenter
Robin Hill
Stuart Laybourne
Graham Mallett
David Mitchell
Richard Beardow of RS Systems (UK) Ltd,
Roof Sheeting & Cladding Services
Synergy Housing
The Digby Charity
Harold G Walker, Solicitors
Jeff Webb IT Services
and of course
ALL OUR VOLUNTEERS
without whom the Library would not be open.
Reg. Charity No. 1151552. Registered as a Company Limited by Guarantee 08124849