As of 1 April 2026 Wiveliscombe Town Hall Trust (that’s the Trustees in the photo above) has taken on responsibility for the management of Wiveliscombe Library.
For as long as anyone can remember there has been a library in Wiveliscombe. But the last 16 years has not been easy.
The story until now
Until 2009 the library was located over the road in The Courthouse but then moved to its current premises at 9 The Square (previously Heather’s haidressers and, for a month in Sept 2005, the first home of 10Radio).
Proposals by Somerset County Council in late 2010 to close Wiveliscombe Library and others like it were strongly rebutted by the affected communities with the result that after a court case they were saved, although Wiveliscombe had reduced opening hours. The FOWL website has all the details.
In 2018 there was another existential crisis which was only resolved when the Town Council agreed to underwrite Somerset’s operating costs and Wivelicombe Area Partnership took on responsibility for the lease and the premises until 2026.
In early 2025 the Town Council said it could no longer afford the cost of supporting the library and that a new operating model would be needed from 2026. At the same time the Area Partnership said that it wanted to pass on responsibility for the lease. Without a solution to these two issues the library would close. At this point Wiveliscombe Town Hall Trust stepped in and offered to help.
What happened in April 2026?
In April the Town Hall Trust became the lessee of the library building, renting it for the next seven years from the Coop which owns the freehold. Somerset Council continues employing the librarian but the Trust manages the volunteers. Somerset Council also provides all the book stock and the library, from the user’s point of view, continues to be part of Somerset’s library service and the LibrariesWest network. Somerset provides £9,000/year towards the running costs with the Town Council covering all the remaining costs (approx £28,000).
What happens in April 2027?
From April 2027 until 2033 the Town Hall Trust carries on managing the building and volunteers but also takes on responsibility for employing the librarian. Somerset will continue providing all the books and loan system and will also continue funding at £9,000/year. Wiveliscombe Town Council will provide a grant to the Trust to cover the remaining costs. With identified savings the Town Council’s contribution will reduce by about half.
Why?
You might ask why the Town Hall Trust, which is still in the process of restoring the Town Hall and bringing it into use, would want to take on the added role of running the library.
Part of the answer lies in neighbourliness. The library is right next door to the Town Hall, so there’s a logic in us taking on responsibility. In addition libraries are part of our cultural makeup so, as a cultural organisation ourselves, we believe it is important to keep libraries playing a full part in community life.
The library will also increase the Town Hall’s visibility and accessibility. It will give us a shop window to promote our events, a place to buy tickets during the day, added space for evening events and an accessible toilet. When we become the employer it will also increase our capacity hugely. And if we can combine the librarian’s hours with grant funding to support the Town Hall’s activities it will mean our overall impact grows even more.
Want to help?
If you want to help keep the library going, please let us know by filling in our volunteering form. Roles include helping behind the desk (for which you’ll be given full training in the use of the book loan system), organising and supporting additional events, building maintenance, backoffice admin and a host of other things we haven’t yet thought of. Fill in the form and we’ll get back to you to discuss further.
