HAVE you visited Upton Library recently? If so, you will have seen a few new faces there.

Since September, we volunteers have been helping out in the library and really enjoying our time there.

Most of us decided to volunteer to prevent the closure or limitation of library services in Upton in these difficult times.

The library isn’t there just so we can borrow books but is an important link with Police, Citizens Advice Bureau, Local Government departments and so on.

Many activities take place there too: ones for children from the youngest onwards, as well as courses for adults (photography, basic computer skills, craft work, First Aid, Maths and genealogy for example). Many people come to use the computers, read the newspapers and meet friends.

Would you be interested in joining us? Come and visit the library if you do not know it well. Think about volunteering. So what if you do not know how to use the library systems and computers? Neither did we!

We had some initial training and we depend on our wonderful, patient, friendly and informative librarians to help and support us. We are astonished at the amount we have learned and the variety of things we have tried. It is very rewarding to meet and talk with customers, to put up displays, access information on the computers, to hear children read, to work in a friendly team, to check books in and out, to reserve and transfer them between libraries, - and when all is quiet maybe get the chance to browse too.

If you would like to volunteer, please come in for a chat with other volunteers and pick up an application form. We would be pleased to see you and we think you would

be pleased you did!

ANNE AND DOREEN (Friday volunteers)