GL17 Community Hub Ltd

This is a new community co-operative in response to budget cuts by Gloucestershire County Council, and part of the second wave of UK community libraries.

Mitcheldean had already fought long and hard to have a library, which was finally achieved in the 1980s.  There has now been a community exercise in moving from protest to a practical response to ensure the library survives.

MLAG have formed a co-operative (an “Industrial & Provident Society”) for community benefit to take over the management of the library.  This is called GL17 Community Hub Ltd, as residents from neighbouring Drybrook and Longhope that share the GL17 postcode are also heavily involved.  After long discussions with the County Council, the library has now been run successfully by volunteers since 1st November 2012.

It has been a privilege to work as a member of the community for once, rather than an outside expert!