Libraries in North Dorset

recommended NDN searches: [libraries]

Thirteen rural libraries in Dorset were given a 12-month "stay of execution" in June 2006 while efforts are made to 'secure their long-term future'.

Dorset County Council's Director of Corporate Services Elaine Taylor was quoted as saying "There is a genuine public desire and concern to work with the county council to find alternative solutions for those branch libraries facing possible closure."

Exactly what form any 'alternative solutions' might take is not clear and the suspicion must be that the closures will be back on the agenda in 2007. It may be that a petition of 10,000 signatories will have to be mobilised every year, as it was in 2006, to save the libraries. This type of 'attritional planning' seems to be becoming more common, gradually wearing down public opinion.

The main town libraries are not threatened and are listed here. The nearest of the threatened closures is in Stalbridge.
 

Other county councils are also planning to close libraries, so DCC may be encouraged in their plans by that. In some areas libraries are now staffed by volunteer (i.e. unpaid) staff. The number of books stocked nationwide has in any case fallen significantly over the past few years, with investment in building refurbishments and internet facilities being preferred to more books. If lack of usage is quoted to justify closures, maybe this is partly the reason.

Bookshops in and around North Dorset

recommended NDN searches: [bookshops]

There are a number of independent bookshops in and around North Dorset which are worth travelling to. There are also W H Smiths (Shaftesbury, Dorchester, Blandford), if you count them,  Ottakars (Dorchester) and Waterstones (Salisbury).

And if you have to use Amazon (its OK, we understand), then at least do so via Amazon affiliate The Slade Centre, so that a few pence reverts to the local economy.

Reading Groups in and around North Dorset

There are reading groups based at Blandford, Stalbridge and Sherborne libraries, and most of these are open to new members. There are also (allegedly) small groups based in Child Okeford*, Chetnole (01935 872093), Sixpenny Handley (the nicely titled Ladies Who Read 01725 553020), Shaftesbury Arts Centre (01747 851619) and Blandford* . These are small groups and they may or may not be open to new members.

There are also school reading groups at Gillingham School and Sherborne School.

* no contact details available

northdorset.net aims to encourage residents and visitors to North Dorset to do more locally - find good food and drink locally, source services locally, support local enterprises, make like-minded contacts locally, be entertained locally.