While we sort through the paperwork to register for GiftAid, we’ve received two very generous donations towards the work to re-open our library.

First, thanks to Arch Insurance for their donation of £500, following a member of their team noticing our work.

Second, thanks to Councillor Lesley Rennie for £1,000 from the Wirral Together fund.

We appreciate your support.

Our contractors, Kell Developments and Response Electrics, are now within sight of completion. We’ve been fortunate to have both working with us on the renovation of the library.

From the pictures above, you’ll see that new, low energy lighting has been installed, while keeping within the style and age of the building.

The cafe counter area, for our partner Baked, is also taking shape and the community room will soon have the video screen installed, while the additional W.C. has been installed and the existing W.C. refurbed.

The removal of the ‘Librarian Counter’, which was just a bit too imposing and not at all welcoming, has opened up the space when you first enter, and the plan is to use this as a reception area. We’ve reused most of the wood from this unit.

The Library Sub-Committee is working on the lending and cataloguing system and will report to the first meeting of all our trustees on 21 August, hopefully at the library…

Today was the final meeting for the four ‘founding trustees’ (Ray, Nadina, Sarah and I) before we welcome our new colleagues at a meeting in August.

We’re very much looking forward to working with them, as we re-open and improve our local library. You can read about our trustees here.

At today’s meeting:

We agreed to update our budget, now that an opening date is imminent and we have a better idea of running costs. This will be done with all trustees on 21 August.

We will contact Grantscape with a view to a bid for some further work, including energy efficiency measures

Congratulated Kell Developments for their work to renovate the interior of the building, using much of the original oak in the new partitions.

Thank Atlas Fire and Security for the installation of modern CCTV both inside and outside the building.

Move utility suppliers, following the handover of the building, away from the Council’s suppliers.

Noted and appreciated the work done by our Library Sub-Committee to introduce a cataloguing and lending system for the books currently held, and the books which will be donated by supporters (as soon as the building work is complete).

We’ve been a bit quiet lately – mainly as we deal with a few ‘unexpected’ issues as we carry out works on the building.

Work had to cease for two weeks, following the Council’s instruction, as they carried out an ‘Asbestos Inspection’ on the building – although we did receive the ‘all clear’ – this delay did knock everything else back as well.

Kell Developments are cracking on with the remodelling of the interior, including some really impressive re-use of the oak panels from the former ‘librarian desk’ for the new partitions as we create dedicated space for the library, community room, new toilets and cafe.

Our new, superfast broadband is being installed soon, along with new lighting throughout the building.

Sadly, following the recent downpours, we had several ‘leaks’ and the Council has agreed to deal with this, at their expense, as it was first spotted (and reported) prior to the lease being signed.

Our Facebook page was hacked a little while ago and, so far, we have been unable to regain access to it.

For those who are holding on to books to donate, please hold on for a little longer. Our new Library Sub-Committee is currently working on how we will catalogue and lend, using systems similar to those at Cornerstone Library in Southport.

While Steve from Kell Developments was getting started on work in the library, the trustees met this morning and we can report that:

Earlier today, and ahead of his retirement next week, the Assistant Chief Executive of Wirral Council, David Armstrong, held a ‘leaving do’ at Birkenhead Town Hall for those with whom he has worked with most closely during his 34 years with Wirral Council.

Why are we posting this? Well, quite simply, without David’s support and action in the years leading up to the transfer of Wallasey Village Library to our charity, it would have closed forever. Finito.

When Wallasey Village Library Friends and local councillors, asked for the roof to be replaced; the footpath to be relaid and the interior to be redecorated by Prince’s Trust, it was David who cut through the Council red-tape and made it happen.

Had some of that work, along with other maintenance issues, not taken place, we would not have been able to afford to take on the building.

So, on behalf of all of us, thank you David Armstrong. We cannot thank you enough for all you have done.

We look forward to welcoming you when we re-open.

We were chuffed to have so many people express an interest in joining us as trustees, to run our charity and reopen the library.

Altogether, an incredible 11 people have volunteered to (potentially) get involved in this way.

We held a couple of ‘open sessions’ at the (very cold and unheated) library. We were really impressed by the enthusiasm of everyone we met.

Last Tuesday, the current four trustees (Ray, Nadina, Sarah and Ian) met to agree the formal process (as suggested by the Charity Commission).

Earlier today, each of the 11 were sent the Commission’s Declaration of Eligibility to complete and return to us (by 1 March).

We’ll then send them a ‘Trustee Pack’ that we’re putting together, with a deadline of 15 March for that to be completed and returned to us.

After that, we will confirm the names of our new trustees and invite them to an ‘induction’ session, which St George’s Primary has kindly agreed to host, so at least we know it will be warm…

N.B. We’ve now removed the ‘trustee’ option on the ‘Get Involved’ page.