## **Cosby Community Library**
**Registered Charity 1168347**
## **5[th] AGM to be held at Cosby Community Library at 7.00pm**
## **on Wednesday 18[th] May 2022**
## **SECRETARY’S REPORT**
**Cosby Community Library is a registered charity, registered on the 21[st] July 2016. The charitable objectives are:**
**1. To advance the education of the general public in Cosby and the surrounding area, in particular but not exclusively by the provision of a lending library.**
**2. To further or benefit the residents of Cosby and the surrounding area, without distinction of sex, sexual orientation, race or of political, religious or other opinions by associating together the said residents and the local authorities, voluntary and other organisations in a common effort to advance education and to provide facilities in the interests of social welfare for recreation leisure time occupation with the objective of improving the conditions of life for the residents.**
The Library is run by volunteers on a day to day basis and is overseen by a Management Team which includes the Trustees. The Charity took over the running of the Library from Leicestershire County Council (LCC) in September 2016 and is responsible for all costs with respect to the building and general equipment. The book stock and I.T. systems continue to be provided by LCC.
This report will cover the period from the previous AGM (May 2021) to this AGM. It is good to meet person to person this time, rather than on ZOOM.
## **1[st] April 2021 – 31[st] March 2022:**
During this period, finances were healthy and there were sufficient numbers of enthusiastic volunteers to cover all the scheduled shifts. The one exception to this occurred on Tuesday 29[th] March, when the Library had to close at 3pm, rather than 5pm. This was due to the last- minute urgency of the situation. Usually, enough notice of a volunteer’s unavailability is given and a replacement volunteer is then able to cover. It is noteworthy that this is the only time this has happened since the take over of the Library in September, 2016.
Post-pandemic, the Library reopened on 13[th] April 2021, with 3 sessions a week at first. On Monday 19[th] July, we were able to recommence our normal opening hours.
Following the reopening of the Library, regular activities have gradually resumed. The Cribbage evenings, Thursday Coffee Mornings and Crime Readers are all now meeting regularly. The Ducklings group for pre schoolers meets on Tuesday mornings (term time only) and is very popular. There are about 12 – 15 children with carers at each session. John made them a fabric Christmas tree, which has remained up because it is such a popular display area for crafts, pictures etc.
The Library participated in the Summer Reading challenge during July & August 2021, which had a great uptake from the children of the village. We were also able to host classes from the primary school for World Book Day, also extremely successful.
A Tea Party was held for all the volunteers and Friends of Cosby Library in the autumn.
Other events have included a Treasure Trail in September, and a Duck Hunt around the village at the October half term. Many ducks were kept by their finders. We wish them well!
Within the Library, we have developed a ‘Cosby Corner’, focussing on the history of our village, and also information about local events, bus timetables, etc.
In addition, we’ve been able to purchase a dishwasher thanks to a grant. We have also purchased a shredder.
At Christmas, we held our first Raffle. Many local businesses contributed prizes, including Next, the Co-Op, the Tithe Barn, Attfields Farm Shop and Russell Smith Butchers. We sold 590 tickets.
A donation was received from TocH, and a letter of thanks sent. It is hoped to use this donation and the money raised by the raffle towards developing the garden space into a sensory garden. This continues to be an ongoing project.
A new staff door has been fitted. The cladding has been replaced, and any rotten wood underneath made good. This has also led to work on the drainage from the roof.
The Management Team continues to meet on a monthly basis. The committee was joined by Jenny Whitby. We have also gained two volunteers who have taken on the monthly clean of the library. John, who has been invaluable with his health & safety expertise and provided security reports throughout the lockdowns, will be standing down as a team member and trustee following this AGM. Laura Meider, who overhauled our FaceBook page, continues to keep this updated and has also started to ‘edit’ our listings on Google.
Lesley has continued to lead the Management Team, aided by the varied and effective talents of the Management Team members.
## **– Library Performance**
|**Annual Issues from April 2019 to March 2020:**|**Annual Issues from April 2019 to March 2020:**|6,053|
|---|---|---|
|book issues|||
|**Annual Issues from April 2020 to March 2021:**||1,550|
|book issues|||
|**Annual Issues from April 2021 to March 2022:**||5,876 book|
|issues|||
|**New Joiners from April 2020**|**to March 2021:**|61|
|**New Joiners from April 2021**|**to March 2022:**|153|
|**Active Borrowers from April**|**2020 to March 2021:**|97|
|**Active Borrowers from April**|**2021 to March 2022:**|375|
|**Number of Annual Visitors:**|||
|**April 2020 to March 2021:**|214||
|**April 2021 to March 2022:**|3958 (includes 221 for World Book Day & 390 for||
|Ducklings)|||
## **Average Number of Ducklings each Session April 2021 to March 2022:**
12
## **Summary of Complaints / Compliments:**
No formal complaints.
## **Summary of Public / Volunteer Accidents:**
None
**Overall Number of Volunteers** April 2020: 37 April 2021: 36 April 2022: 34
April 2022
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Cosby Community Library Accounts at 31/03/2022
INCOME
Bank Cash Total
Leicestershire County Council 1,662.00 1,662.00
Friends Of Cosby Library 25.00 220.00 245.00
Donations/Events 967.20 439.08 1,406.28
Fines 72.07 72.07
Card Re-Issue 11.00 11.00
Reservation Fees 19.00 19.00
Audio Fees 58.00 58.00
Photocopying 112.75 112.75
Sale of Books & Christmas 430.89 430.89
Stationery 0.00 0.00
Jigsaws 21.70 21.70
Raffle 652.05 652.05
Refreshments 115.00 115.00
Covid Grant 4,250.00 0.00 4,250.00
6,904.20 2,151.54 9,055.74
EXPENDITURE
Bank Cash Total
Alarm 479.56 479.56
Gas & Electricity 1402.33 1,402.33
Water 235.01 235.01
Insurance 653.18 653.18
Photocopier 0.00 0.00
Maintenance 6473.87 6,473.87
Stationery 61.97 61.97
Postage 18.12 18.12
Special Events 0.00 0.00
Refreshments 11.37 11.37
Miscellaneous 764.40 104.09 868.49
10099.81 104.09 10203.90
Income less expenses -1148.16
Brought Forward from 2020/21 32541.86
31,393.70
Represented By:
Bank Balance at 31/03/2022 31204.77
Cash In Hand 188.93
Cash Book Position 31393.70
Diff 0.00
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