Double celebration at Market Rasen Library

Known for their community celebration events, library staff were looking forward to marking the milestone with all their customers, but covid restrictions meant it wasn’t possible.

However, undeterred, they rewarded every visitor on April 21 with a cupcake, baked by manager Georgina Carr and staff member Ann Middleton.

Georgina said: “It has been lovely to welcome people back into the library where we have been serving the community for the past 50 years.

“People have been sharing their memories – some remembering coming to the library as children and others their fond memories of previous library staff, such as Pam Islip, whose name has come up a number of times.”

Georgina added: “We hope to be able to celebrate fully and display the cuttings and photographs we have of the library over the years in the autumn.

“Libraries Week is in October, so, with any restrictions permitting, we hope to really celebrate our golden anniversary then.”

However, last week also saw a second celebration for the library.

World Book Night an annual celebration of reading and books, took place last Friday, April 23.

The event was started by The Reading Agency, a charity which aims to inspire people to read by giving away special editions of new books.

Lincolnshire Libraries was lucky enough to be selected as one of their book gifters for 2021 and received 160 copies of ‘Stories To Make You Smile’, a collection of feel-good short stories written by 10 well known authors, including Katie Forde and Jenny Éclair, to give away.

Staff at Market Rasen, as well as the Louth, Boston and Woodhall Spa Libraries, arranged for these books to be gifted to individuals through local community initiatives including food banks and local actions groups that have supported shielding residents through the pandemic.

Georgina Carr said: “World Book Night brings people from all backgrounds together to celebrate the positive difference that reading can make to our lives.

“This year’s title is especially meaningful given the past year and we hope that through it Lincolnshire Libraries can help bring smiles and joy to local residents. “

Market Rasen Library gifted their supply of books through the Market Rasen Action Group (MRAG).

The team of MRAG volunteers stepped up during the pandemic to ensure those who were shielding or vulnerable, or hit either socially or financially during the past year, were not without food, entertainment or essential supplies.

MRAG volunteers will be distributing the books to those in the community they feel would really benefit from a gift to lift their spirits.

MRAG chairman, Julie Lambie, went along to collect the books from Ann Middleton.

Julie said: “Thank you so much for involving MRAG in this wonderful community project.

“We are very honoured to be part of #WorldBookNight.

“We will be making some special deliveries to some wonderful residents who we have helped during lockdown.”

Georgina added: “We are extremely grateful to Market Rasen Action Group for helping us distribute the books and for all the amazing work that the volunteers do to support our local community.”

Having only been allowed to operate a Click &Collect Service until April 12, library users can now visit the library to browse and borrow.

Georgina said: “We have hundreds of new titles just waiting to be borrowed.”

The computers are also now available to use in the library, but booking is advisable as numbers have been reduced to comply with covid regulations.

Market Rasen Library is open Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday from 10am to 5pm, plus Saturday from 10am to 1pm.

l For more information about library services, call the customer service centre on 01522 782010, email [email protected] or call in to the library and speak to a member of staff.

Alternatively, visit www.better.org.uk/library/lincolnshire/marketrasenlibrary