Library celebrates 40th birthday (From Swindon Advertiser)

Library celebrates 40th birthday

8:30pm Thursday 1st September 2011 in News By Scott D'Arcy

BOOKWORMS young and old turned out in force to celebrate a library’s 40th anniversary.

Covingham Library users and staff held a birthday bash yesterday, complete with a two-tier cake cut by Swindon mayor Ray Ballman to mark the occasion.

About 50 people, including local ward councillors, attended the library, in St Paul’s Drive, in the morning, and later in the day, there was a talk by town guide Cilla Slipper and children’s entertainment.

One of the organisers, library assistant Chris Chesterman, said she was pleased so many had turned up to celebrate the occasion.

She said: “It was just a very informal all day tea party to mark 40 years of the library.

“We have a group called Friends of Covingham Library who support us and work very hard.

“The library is really well-used by children and this year we even had more sign up to our summer reading challenge. It’s great to see so many youngsters coming in.”

Coun Keith Williams, lead member for library services, said: “I think obviously Covingham Library is excellently supported and considering I just had my 40th birthday I hope it goes on for another 40 years.

“We are hoping to get a self-service machine installed and longer opening hours which is good news. Unlike other councils which are closing libraries we are bucking the trend.”

Long-term resident and former parish councillor Jan Prichard, 64, said: “It’s great that the children are encouraged to come in and use it.

“We fought for it in the late 90s, early 2000s to keep it open and it’s been going from strength to strength.”

Daniella Page, eight, said: “My mum’s older than the library. I think it’s really good and I like getting books out. Sometimes I take ages trying to choose a book because I like to read a lot.”

Coun Ballman said: “It’s just fantastic.”

that it’s been here for 40 years. It is all about the children and the more we can encourage them the better.”