Our Sexual Health Medical Secretary, Liz Todd, and Retired Ophthalmic Consultant, Colin Hutchinson, have recently been involved in a wonderful project to save Skircoat Green Library, which has been re-named The Old Library. The library has been closed since 2020, but thanks to the efforts of local volunteers, it will re-open its doors in the New Year. 

Colin, Liz and their fellow local Trustees have been working hard to renovate the building into a working library again. Their plans going forward include a coffee shop and a community space which will be available for lots of different events, including social prescribing.

They are close to completing their goal and are making one final push to help raise the funds they need to get the library open with a Just Giving page. The page reads:

"We are almost at the end of a long journey to save our beautiful library from closure. We are now refurbishing the interior of the building to ensure it is a warm, welcoming space for everyone to enjoy. We are really keen to finish this by early January before the cold weather kicks in. We have already had a lot of support from local residents and trades but as you can imagine cash is very tight. Please do support if you can, every little helps. The sooner we get all the interior prepared, the sooner we can have our library back, borrowing and reading books, serving lovely hot drinks and homemade cakes, and having a new community space for everyone."

Liz said: “It's a fantastic project and the Trustees have worked very hard to get to this stage. I have taken the opportunity to offer my secretarial skills as administrator and minute taker. The Old Library will benefit the whole community with an accessible library, coffee shop (with homemade cakes), a venue for people to socialise, local schools to visit, social prescribing opportunities and a safe space for kids to go.

“It is much more than borrowing books, but you can do that too! It has been missed since it closed, and I look forward to seeing how it will change and adapt to the local community needs in the future.”