• Beacon Villages Community Library is run by a charity for the community across Pitstone, Ivinghoe, Cheddington, Marsworth, Slapton and beyond.
  • We are very fond of books, but we are about much more than paper. We aim to provide entertainment, education, and information, to support the community, and to offer a friendly pace to meet.
  • Whether you need a book for your homework, want to visit the Which? website for free, or would like to check what night to put your bins out – we’ll be happy to help.
  • You can find us in the Town Hall on Ivinghoe High Street. We are open Tuesday, Thursday and Friday afternoon and Saturday mornings.


Volunteer


It is only possible to run Beacon Villages Community Library because of the kind support provided by volunteers. At present, volunteers assist in the library during opening hours, helping to issue and return books, stock shelves and answering members’ queries. Typically, volunteers come in for a 1 ½ – 2 hour slot each a fortnight.

Presently, we are looking for volunteers to assist with fundraising, including arranging activities such as raffle and stalls at village fetes, and helping to get our friends card scheme off the ground. If you have fundraising or sales experience, or are simply enthusiastic, please do get in touch: 01296 387890 or info@bvcl.org.uk.

In the future, as the library grows and develops, there will be lots of other ways to get involved.

Be a special interest volunteer…

Do you have a special skill, interest or hobby? Could you share your knowledge at a drop-in session on a weekly/monthly/one-off basis? For example:

  • ‘Computer buddy’ – computer literate volunteers needed to provide support to library visitors to reserve/renew books online, use Google, use services that members have access to with their BCC library card (eg Which? website)
  • Reading aloud as part of children’s reading group/story time
  • Running a Saturday morning Dads’ club
  • Homework club – helping young people find the information they need for homework assignments
  • Subject specialists: to offer talks or support to library users in finding information. Subject could include: local history, family history/family tree research, specific crafts/hobbies, computer/internet use, creative writing

Be a transport volunteer…

It is important that BVCL is accessible to the whole community, including those who find it difficult to get to the library. Could you help with:

  • Book delivery: to those who can’t get to the library. Deliveries could be made local to the library (perhaps on foot), or further afield (by car, or even by bicycle).
  • Library lifts:  collecting/dropping those without transport to the library to browse and borrow (and to use other local facilities such as the post office)

Be a village champion…

One or more ‘library champions’ in each village would be able to support the library in various ways, such as:

  • Putting posters on village notice boards
  • Helping with leaflet drops
  • Keeping the committee informed of village events/needs/service requirements
  • Liaising with other village groups/organisations (clubs, schools etc)
  • Liaising with local businesses
  • Generally promoting the library/keeping the library on the agenda
  • Suggest ways of engaging with their village
  • Compiling/maintaining a Beacon Villages events diary and directory
  • Manning stands at villages and school fetes and events

Help run and improve the service…

Once the library is transferred, a management committee will be needed to decide on the library’s priorities, to raise funds, to recruit and manage volunteers and to develop and improve the service for the future. Tasks/roles include:

  • Publicity: creating projects to raise the profile of the BVCL with residents and the media (such as the Beacon Villages Top Reads project), poster design, speaking to local media, adding articles/information to the BVCL website/blog, using digital/social media to connect with residents (eg  facebook, twitter)
  • Community fundraising: co-ordinating fundraising events (eg jumble sales, cake sales, raffles, quiz nights, sponsored events etc)
  • Commercial income raising: eg mini literary festival, friends card/Beacon Villages passport, items for sale (eg villages diary, book marks, post cards etc)
  • Service improvement: running suggestions book, researching ideas from other libraries (eg online book share scheme, e-books etc), improving book stock
  • Finance: BVCL will need support from two or more volunteers with a financial background to assist with bookkeeping
  • Legal: BVCL would like support from a legal mind to help the committee consider issues such as the lease, insurance and risk issues etc
  • Volunteer co-ordination: running a rota, finding ways to use volunteers’ skills, working with/managing/thanking volunteers, recruiting new volunteers
  • Running extra-curricular events: booking author talks, arranging volunteers to help with special interest sessions (eg family history, computing)

 

If you are interested in any of these activities or would like to get involved or offer other help or support, please get in touch: 01296 387890 or info@bvcl.org.uk.

Volunteer rota

Each month we issue a rota for the month ahead.

Click here for the August/September rota

Click here for the September/October rota