Friends of Street Library Annual Report 2024
This year has seen a continued increase in numbers of visitors and new members signing up in the library. Volunteer hours are up and there are many new activities on offer, thanks in large part to the hard work and dedication of our volunteer co-ordinator, Marilyn. All this despite some major challenges, including the closure of the Crispin shopping centre, affecting the access to the library from the High Street and also removing the parking available to the volunteers working in the library. The much-publicised problems for Somerset Council are leading to some reductions in funding for services. Happily, as a Community Library, Street will be spared some of the cutbacks but there will be inevitable budget restrictions.
As usual, we have offered regular craft activities for children during the holidays and provided prizes for the competitions run by the library. This year we are running a Giant Sunflower competition over the summer, giving seeds to children on production of their library cards. Watch out for all the photos in September! Our Christmas Story Time was a huge success this year. We had Kirsty and Jenny who did a fantastic job reading a number of stories and even including some songs to a packed audience before they all had hot chocolate and cookies.
The Summer Reading Challenge in 2023 was very popular. Over 230 children signed up to take part in the challenge and medals were handed out to those who completed before the deadline. The theme was ‘Get Set Read’, the Friends donated a number of books to support the scheme as well as organising activities in the library. We are now gearing up for the 2024 Summer Reading Challenge with the theme ‘Marvellous Makers’.
The Friends continued to offer several Author Talks in the library during 2023 and we are just starting out on a new series of talks during 2024.
We were given the chance to publicise what we do and what the library has to offer at the Merriman Park Fun Day in September and the Street Parish Council ‘Discover Your Community’ event in March. We were also invited to attend the Family Fun Day at Brookside Academy, we supplied a Lego activity day which was very rewarding and we have been invited to do it again this year. We are also hoping to share a stall with Street Parish Council at the market on the High Street in the summer. Many thanks again to all the volunteers who gave up their time to help man these events.
In addition to these activities, The Friends have provided items for the library to help with displays and storage. We provided a new magazine rack to display the papers along with a varied selection of magazines which are generously donated by members of the Friends. We are also in the process of a purchasing some display stands for the leaflets in the foyer area which should not only make it easier for customers to see the leaflets but also make the area look a little tidier. Thanks to some very generous grants from Street Parish Council and Clarks Village we have been able to ensure the continued provision of newspapers in the library, despite a surprising number of price increases through the year.
None of this would have been possible without the support of all of our members, trustees, committee and Street Parish Council, thank you to you all.
Sarah Ivory
Chair
Friends of Street Library final accounts for the year 2023 - 24 Income and expenditure for the year 61412023 - 51412024 In¢om• Expenditure Caslj in bank (o&Nr2023J Current al Cash in hand Readinglwriling challenge5 Resources for library CC charges Quiz prizes Insurance Sundries Newspaper money to library Transfefs cash lo cja 303.12 337.$4 050 30.00 154. 247.29 532.14 125.00 6900.75 56.53 2024-25 subs paid early Subs sin¢e 0610412023 Donation5 Income from stalls Quiz Sales Gift Aid Newspaper donations Transfers cla lo cash 80.00 780.00 255 50 224 85 223.40 155.16 579.98 125.00 Total Income Total Expenditure Surplus 2423.89 1730. 15 693. 74 Cash in bank (04rd024) Current alc Cash in hand 7450.48 200.54 Total 9381.17 Total 9381.17 Signed: Peter Fry (Treasurer) Date 11 Inde endent examiner's re I have examined the above accounts of the Friends of Sireel Library for the period 0610412023 until 0510412024 (the end of their nomial accounting period) and compared them wilh the books and records of the charity. I confirni they in accordance therewith and with the explanaiions gil'en. Julie Hillman Date li OIL