Bostall Library Community Group took on the management of Bexley Village Community Library in Dec 2016, with a 5-year lease. Unfortunately, several factors including the changing needs of local people and the impact of Covid mean the library is no longer sustainable with the use of our resources that are needed for Bostall Community Library.

We would like to take this opportunity to thank our seconded staff members, volunteers, loyal customers, and supporters for their contribution.

We will continue to work with the Council to ensure that there will be minimal disruption to users of Bexley Village Community Library, with existing Library staff and volunteers continuing to operate the library. Existing members of Bexley Village Community Library will still be able to use their library card to borrow books from 1^st April.

In a news update release on Wednesday 23^rd Councillor Peter Craske, Cabinet Member for Place said: 

“The Bostall Library Community group stepped in to run the library in 2016 at a time when its future was uncertain.”

"They’ve done far more than we ever could have hoped for at a very small community library, transforming it before COVID into a thriving hub with a wealth of community activities taking place every week.”

"It’s not a surprise that the pandemic has led the group to re-evaluate their commitments and focus their recovery efforts on their main site at Bostall Library, where they run many successful programmes and activities.”

"I would like to express my gratitude to Operations Director Kim Bryans, the groups’ trustees and all the members and volunteers who have made every effort to turn libraries into the heart of their local community. We are delighted that the group will continue running Bostall Library and arrangements are in place for this to continue."

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The Council remains committed to the library being community managed and will shortly share information on how community groups can make expressions of interest to explore the opportunity of running the library. Keep an eye on the council Library Service website for more information.

Andy Bryans, Chair of Trustees, Bostall Library Community Group