Beddau & Tynant Community Library (BATCL) Annual Report
September 2022 to August 2023
Library Services
Being a Library is at the centre of everything that we do. But it isn’t limited to the free book borrowing service. We also offer five free public access computers along with printing and photocopying facilities. Our users can also take advantage of free access to Ancestry & Find my Past.
Library Figures
There are currently 1580 library members. Our Facebook page has 1.2k followers.
Below is a table showing the number of books borrowed each month per year:
| 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 236 | 257 | 194 | 191 | 248 | 118 | 186 | 186 | |
| February | 109 | 247 | 196 | 205 | 171 | 255 | 104 | 174 | 179 |
| March | 352 | 191 | 145 | 172 | 232 | 353 | 120 | 174 | 92 |
| April | 245 | 292 | 182 | 201 | 243 | 0 | 131 | 268 | 219 |
| May | 297 | 261 | 97 | 156 | 247 | 36 | 148 | 175 | 149 |
| June | 337 | 307 | 185 | 168 | 248 | 15 | 181 | 227 | 179 |
| July | 253 | 255 | 294 | 213 | 328 | 28 | 159 | 196 | 291 |
| August | 328 | 396 | 313 | 364 | 325 | 100 | 148 | 240 | 309 |
| September | 312 | 279 | 303 | 291 | 335 | 133 | 202 | 183 | 240 |
| October | 333 | 271 | 232 | 253 | 243 | 157 | 172 | 190 | |
| November | 322 | 246 | 224 | 221 | 234 | 131 | 156 | 154 | |
| December | 193 | 189 | 128 | 118 | 121 | 160 | 161 | 134 | |
| Total Loans | 3081 | 3170 | 2556 | 2556 | 2918 | 1616 | 1800 | 2301 | 1844 |
On average we loan 160 books a month including the Covid years. The number of book loans however does not represent the footfall for the library as customers use the free computers and attend the activities without borrowing a book. The Monday Club provides talks, craft sessions, film afternoons, etc. to tackle isolation and loneliness for those aged 50+.
| Year | No. of borrowers added |
Set up to end of September |
|---|---|---|
| 2017 | 972 | |
| 2018 | 205 | |
| 2019 | 179 | |
| 2020 | 50 | |
| 2021 | 19 | |
| 2022 | 93 | |
| 2023 | 63 |
Activities -2022
In September 2022 we worked in partnership with the Community Council to open a book of condolence in the library following the death of the Queen.
We extended our opening hours to include Friday evening and we welcomed back the PACT meetings.
The Monday club continues to go from strength to strength with a full programme of activities and events. The creative writing class and evening reading group meet on a monthly basis. We value our links with the local schools and were delighted to host all Gwaunmeisgyn pupils for story-telling sessions and to browse our children’s books.
We worked in partnership with Llantrisant Community Council and Litter-Free Beddau & Tynant, to host the Carols around the Christmas tree and lights switch on.
Activities -2023
Things returned, more or less, to where they were pre-covid.
Our place in the Community and the services we provide led, in June, to the presentation by Professor Jean White, the High Sherrif of Mid Glamorgan, of her Award in recognition of all that we do.
Another event which was particularly heartening was the launch of the Summer Reading Challenge in July. We invited local Paralympian, Sara Head, who brought her medal, and we had carpet bowls and curling with other indoor activities, and signed up almost 30 new young readers to the Library. 41 children participated in the challenge in total.
Our other activities include -
-
Film afternoons
-
Evening reading group
-
Creative writing group
-
Baby weaning and massage sessions
-
Monthly drop-in autism advice sessions working with Autistic Minds Charity
-
PACT sessions
-
Litter Free - Beddau & Tynant meetings & fundraising events.
-
Monday Club
-
History Group
-
Gwaunmeisgyn pupils story-telling and additionally, they are doing a project to compare Beddau & Pontypridd libraries by visiting both libraries
-
Babis Babies Bach hosted a Gruffalo event
-
Armchair Pilates
Conclusion
In summary, the library is committed to promoting organisations and activities which enhance the social, educational, physical and mental wellbeing of the local community. We seek to improve the quality of life for people of all ages, economic status and educational attainment, through the provision of a welcoming and inclusive environment and free access to a wide range of resources. We have had another successful year, but the future
isn’t without challenges. Like everyone locally, the Library has felt the effects of the ‘cost of living crisis’, and all our running costs have increased. Our technology, like our book stock needs to be kept up to date.
But, having said that we are , as Trustees, confident that the Library has a secure future, with the Community behind us. As always, we would like to thank all our users for their support, and most especially, we’d like to thank and applaud our Volunteers for their commitment, and hard work. We simply couldn’t do it without them.
Julie Barton, Chair of Trustees, Beddau and Tynant Community Library
Beddau & Tyniint Comrnunity Library Charity Number 1157769 Income & Expenditure Account For the year ending 31st August 2022 2023 Income Grants Donations Fundraising Room Hire Gift Aid Including Match Funding 7.163 595 439 513 426 9,136 ExpendTrtu Ga5 & Electricity Water In5urènce Book Purchases Telephone Staticpery & Postage Fundraising Events T Expenditure Dedicated Grant Expenditure Due5 & Subscriptions Repairs & Renewals. Buildings Profess.'onal Fees 1,139 1&2 1,1&8 l.Q21 192 49) 1.374 530 150 Totèl Expenditure Income over £Npenditure 12,4671 Opening Balance. Bank Net Incoming Resources forthe Year 34 E&.