Bembridge Community Library Report from 01/04/24 to 31/03/25
The Library continues to be responsible for the running of the library services as well as the maintenance of the building. This year the focus has been on improving the Community Room. A significant legacy received last year allowed us to replace the internal (false) ceiling in the Community Room along with new LED lighting. These changes considerably enhance the look and feel of the room. We will also allocate some of this money to refurbish the large glass windows at the front and rear of the building and re-point some of the external brickwork - items on our to-do list for the next financial year.
Discussions with Bembridge Heritage (BH) have continued through the year and, although they have insufficient funds to demolish and replace the rear extension (which the Library does not use) they are on course with plans to make the area water-tight. We await Isle of Wight Council approval for this to happen as they are the landlords of the whole building.
We continue to have regular ‘author of the month’ promotions, jigsaw sales and have provided talks/information to other local groups. Donated books and DVDs are scanned for possible resale value.
In terms of presenting itself to the community, the library was fully involved with the annual Bembridge Street Fair in May and attended a volunteering event in the Village Hall in July to promote the library and attract new volunteers.
The Library promotes events which specifically target the younger people of Bembridge. An evening session for the Bembridge Rainbows was held. In the summer, along with other libraries, the Library promoted the Summer Reading Challenge which included volunteers visiting two of the local schools to raise awareness of the scheme. World Animal day saw a colouring competition for children.
Our annual Christmas Coffee Morning and Raffle events took place as usual and were well attended, raising vital funds to help keep the library open. Also to help raise funds a representative from the library attended the annual Community Chest event and was successful in obtaining funding for a new till for the front desk. Also purchased for the front desk was a SumUp machine for taking card payments/donations. While there have been teething problems relating to the Wi-Fi configuration and poor macro network connectivity, the volunteers have persevered and overcome most of these issues.
In July 2024 the Library became a champion for Plastic Free Bembridge and have hosted an exhibition in the Community Room to spread information about plastic pollution in the environment and how to reduce/reuse more effectively.
Another local charity (Bembridge Belles WI) has chosen the Library as their charity of the year. This means that the Belles will focus fundraising on the Library and pass over monies raise to further the Libraries objectives.
Bembridge library is open from 9.30am to 12.30pm on Wednesday, Friday and Saturday mornings plus Friday afternoons from 1.30pm to 4.30pm. As well as offering access to the whole of the Isle of Wight library book catalogue our services include:
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Book and jigsaw sales
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Photocopying
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Printing
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Laminating (A4 & A3)
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Tourist point for tourists and local events
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A large community room for hire
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The free use of public computers
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Computer lessons (1-2-1)
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General information on services across the Isle of Wight
The library welcomes donations as well as unwanted books and puzzles.
Alison Austin and Ian Graham (Trustees – Bembridge Community Library)
BEMBRIDGE LIBRARY. charitab Inwp(wated Lyanksatiofi 1179944 BEMBRIDGE COMMUNITY LIBRARY ChrI1ble Ineorpor&ied Oryni5•fio* 1179944 Income & Expendithre Aceount- Ist April 2024 to 31st fvlarch 2025 24n5 Expenditure 23124 Non-DoJnestic Raies 128 t)onaiions 435 Insurance 184 106 Bvok Sale5 £ 1.296 931 H¢aL Lighi & Power RepairJ & Mntenan{ 6,261 5.332 Cnp)'ing & Printin8 Book Fin& Lost B(x)k5 226 389 6.496 3.583 Licences I'rv} orrice Equipment C4)vid-PPE eic 166 159 Book Reservations 187 275 186 DVD Rental 26 ,Audio Bwk Rental 19 28 sid11try Compuier & Rclaicd Evenl ExnseS Professional Ftt5 31 143 Room Renial £ 1.091 1. 138 153 164 Crdft and other Sale5 557 604 60 12fl 751 1,070 85 7) ', Bri¢-a-B Gr#nts xnd Other Income 121 £ 4.667 Purchast of B(K)ks Sundry liems 20 20 ! Legacy ,,BPC Community Chesi IEDF Energy Interest Receivtd: £ 21.74 RcfTeshTnents iio 250 112 Presenraiion Gift 42 2iO 150 Bank 418 383 , Fixed Tcmi DLPOSIt TOTAL INCONIE 2 92) £ 3,344 1,690 £ 29.064 | TOTAL EXPENDITURE £ IJ,859 . Lrcess o Inconre over EK nditure. 5.599 18.939 BEM LIBRARY March 2025.¥ Pagè1 of2 INC & EXP 2025
Finan¢ial Control BEMBRIDGE COMMUNITY LIBRARY 2410612025 20.'29 BEMBRIDGE COMMUNITY LIBRARY BALANCE SHEET as at 31st March 2025 CURREPIT ASSETS Cash B¥nk Treasurer's Account BB Inqiani Online Fixed Tem Deposit Cash {Float in Use) Cash {Till Back_up Change) Cash (Petty Cash) Cash in Hand l Transit 390iJ360 1 i91i7062 Nationwide 1,673.49 37,292.07 62,925.23 20.00 123.18 102,151.62 Debtors Bank Inleresi BB Inst 30.79 30.79,. 'Pre 'ments 2 J'ear- Hosting Plan .Sileground .Total Current Assets 102,434.20 ' CURRENT LIABJLrriES Creditors and Accruals . Busin¢ss Strea 2770484 47.70 47.70, Income Received in Advallce 0.00 0.00 Total Current Liabilities 0.00 .NET CURRENT ASSETS Represented by: Capital & Rcseryes as at 1st April 2024 Add Excess of Incom¢ ov¢r Expenditure for the Year ,Capital & Reserves a5 at 31 st March 2025 107,985.48 -5,598.98 102J86.50, Check 0.00 BEM LIBRARY March 2025.xls Page2of2 BAL SHEET 2025