Great Ayton's library was turned into a community-run Discovery Centre and has been thriving.
It started with a new name - the Discovery Centre. Local school children came up with it to add some extra excitement to the notion of what the library could do. Since then volunteers play an active role in staffing the library and managing its affairs. They are aided from some funding from the local parish council which allows them to buy-insome professional help as well.
Innovative ideas to make the Discovery Centre sustainable have flourished. The space now can be hired out for events, there are craft fairs, visitors can buy coffee while they read, and part of the room has become an Art Gallery, providing some colour to the walls and some extra income as well.
All of this community involvement and new ideas has meant that the Discovery Centre now has more visitors than ever before!