Wiveliscombe Library saved from closure for the third time

The running of the service has been taken on by a trust reviving the town hall next door in The Square.

The library building is being leased from the Coop by Wiveliscombe Town Hall Trust for the next seven years.

Somerset Council will continue employing the librarian, providing books, and funding £9,000 a year towards running costs over the next 12 months.

Award winning librarian Karen Collings (Image: Wiveliscombe Town Hall Trust)

Until next April, Wiveliscombe Town Council will cover the remaining costs of around £28,000, while the trust will manage the building and volunteers.

After that, the town hall will take on responsibility for employing the librarian.

Somerset Council will continue funding £9,000 a year, and the town council’s grant to the trust will reduce by about a half through savings.

Trust co-chairman, Nicky Saunter, said: "The Wiveliscombe Town Hall Trust is very excited to be taking over the running of the Wiveliscombe Community Library to keep this really important service going in the heart of our town.

"Free access to the world of reading, listening, and researching is a fundamental part of our culture.

"Community libraries offer something else too - a friendly face and access to a wide range of extra services, from borrowing an iPad to picking up a bus timetable.

"Wiveliscombe Town Hall Trust would like to thank the town council for their support in keeping the library open and our fabulous librarian, Karen Collings.

"Karen won the Community Library Network’s award for arts and culture in 2025 for starting the local literary festival."

Somerset County Council planned to close the library in 2010, but that was overruled following a local campaign and a court case.

The library was under threat again in 2018, until the town council stepped in to underwrite Somerset’s operating costs and Wiveliscombe Area Partnership became responsible for the lease and the premises until 2026.

Wiveliscombe Town Hall Trust came to the rescue after the town council announced last year that it could no longer afford the cost of supporting the library.

At the same time, the area partnership said it wanted to pass on its responsibilities.

A town hall trust spokesperson said it was taking on its new role out of "neighbourliness".

They added: "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."