Burley's Community Managed Library

The library is now open for normal browsing and computer use. Normal group activities have also resumed. Unfortunately the library has no printing facilities at present due to ongoing problems with Bradford Council ICT.

Face coverings are still recommended for all persons over the age of 11 unless medically exempt. This applies to both the main library building and the foyer. Please do not come to the library if you are showing any symptoms of Coronavirus including a persistent cough, fever or change/loss of smell/taste. 

You can order online, by email, by post, in person or by telephoning the library. 

Following Bradford Council's decision to reduce their expenditure across their library network the Parish Council agreed to take over the running of the library service from April 2017. Although Bradford will not pay staffing costs, subject to review, they have offered to provide: 

• The lease of the building
• The transfer of the existing stock of books and computers
• New books on a regular basis
• Payment of energy/business rates/etc.
• Access to a repairs and improvement fund for the building, although no firm commitment was given on the size of the fund or likelihood of obtaining grants.
• Training for volunteers

The Parish Council has been fortunate to secure the services of over 60 volunteers to help run library services and activities. In addition, the Parish Council have appointed a Senior Libary Assistant to oversee existing book lending ad help develop a range of new activities.

Should anyone have any comments about existing services or ideas for new services, please contact the Parish Clerk.

Refurbishment

Burley Library has recently undergone a schedule of internal and external works to improve facilities and preserve the library as a community asset. Funded by the Parish Council with grants for new furniture and shelving from village partners, the library is now a fresh, modern and inviting space that can also be hired outside of opening hours.

 

Library contact details

Address: Burley Library, Grange Road, Burley-in-Wharfedale, Ilkley, LS29 7HD

Phone: 01943 863714

Email: Parish Clerk

Present Opening Times 

Monday: 10am to 5pm

Tuesday: 10am to 5pm

Wednesday: Closed

Thursday: 2pm to 7pm

Friday: 10am to 5pm

Saturday: 10am to 1pm

Sunday: Closed

Normal Facilities 

• Disabled access and toilet facilities plus baby changing
• Daily Newspapers when open (Yorkshire Post, i). Weekly Ilkley Gazette
• Large Print and Talking Books
• Children's activities on Tuesdays at 9.30 am (term time only)
• Free wi-fi
• Free Internet access and word processing, with print capabilities from the library computers. Free access to Ancestry and Find My Past from within the library building.
• Colour and black and white photocopier A3/A4
• Fiction Reading Group for Adults - 2.30 pm four weekly on Friday
• Access to the Burley Local History Group/Archives by prior appointment
  
  

Burley Library Website

The library is now open until 7 pm on Thursdays to give commuters an opportunity to use its facilities. Books can also be returned via the large drop box near the bins (not the letter box) to the right of the main entrance when the library is closed.

Home grown free events have returned including World Book Day, guest speakers and some children’s author events provided by Bradford Libraries. The growing in popularity Chess Club runs on most weekdays after school. Tuneful Tuesdays from Story Bees at 9.30 am term time only for under 5s is a regular attraction.

Worth Connecting have run a free “Getting Started with a Tablet or iPad” course which will be repeated shortly and they also hope to run a follow-up course for improvers. The course will take place on Tuesday afternoons. Numbers are limited so if you are interested please contact the library, either in person or on 01943 863714. Pictured from left to right are library volunteers Jackie Stoddart and Louise Starkey with Becky Fazackerley from Worth Connecting.

Thanks to the Burley Youth Forum and generosity of local residents the library now has a large selection of GCSE and A Level textbooks for use in the library’s study area.

Last but not least, the library team and Parish Council wish to thank the Wharfedale Scone Roses WI for their extremely generous donation which has made possible the construction of permanent accessible raised beds at the front of the library. This has enabled the Green Shoots Community Garden project to go full steam ahead!

 

 

 

 

 

There is a lot happening in March at the library. It’s World Book Day on Thursday 3 March and Maddie from Story Bees has two events. There will be dragon stories, crafts and free books and refreshments. The first event will be at 2 pm for under 5s and then from 3.30 pm for Reception to Year 6 children and their younger siblings. Each event lasts about an hour.

 

On Tuesdays from 8 March between 1.30 pm and 3 pm Worth Connecting will be running a free 6 week Tablets for Beginners course. They will supply tablets or you can bring your own. They can even supply tablets on a free loan basis. If you know anyone who may be interested please ask them to contact Becky on 01274 449660 or by email to info@worthconnecting.org.

 

There is also the Rhyme Challenge for under 5s which will be run by Maddie in her usual Tuesday morning slot at 9.30 am from 15 March. No need to book, the 30 minute session is held outside the library in Grange Park if the weather is favourable. Otherwise it will be inside the library. It includes a rhymetime, story and bubbles!

 

Lastly, on Tuesday 5 April there will be an author visit and historical talk by Alison Harrop with the intriguing title “Did Edward II really die in Berkeley Castle in 1327?” Alison has written the historical fiction book “The Mortimer Affair” under the pen name Alice Mitchell which is based on these events. The event is free but numbers are limited and booking essential via the library.

 

Pictured is the first author visit to the library in over two years. Local author Colin Speakman visited with his latest book and gave a fascinating talk celebrating the extraordinary variety of landscapes and rich cultural heritage of Yorkshire

 

 

The library team are looking forward to the rest of 2022 with cautious optimism, with the worst of the pandemic hopefully behind us.

 

With this in mind we are building a programme of events for the forthcoming year. We hope to have a regular timetable of author visits and guest speakers for both adults and children. If you know anyone who would like to give a talk or presentation please let us know. We can’t offer payment but we can offer free promotion and sale of your book or club/society plus tea/coffee/biscuits!

 

To kick off we have two events in February. On Tuesday 15 February at 2 pm, prolific local author Colin Speakman will be talking about his latest book “Yorkshire: Ancient Nation, Future Province”. Tea/coffee/biscuits will be served after the event on a donation basis. Then, during half term, Jenna Drury will be visiting with her book “Cloud Tales” on Tuesday 22 February from 11 am to 12 noon. This event will include some audience participation and is suitable for families with children aged from about 4 to 9 years. Numbers are limited for both events, so please book via the links which will be on the Love Burley Library! Facebook page, Burley Library website or contact the library direct.

 

The library is also looking for donations to make its Green Shoots Community Garden more permanent. Last year, food plants and herbs were semi-successfully grown in donated pots and they had a number of well attended events. They would like to fund the construction of permanent raised beds on the slabs at the front of the library, similar to those of the Burley Community Herb Garden at the rear of the library. They are hoping to raise an additional £500 to be able to complete the project so any small amount would be gratefully accepted.

 

If you get a chance, pop in to see the new permanent display by the Knitting Group in memory of one of their founder members Nellie Thornton who sadly passed away last year. She was a local inspiration who dedicated her life to promoting creative activities for the local community.