Two Cornish pubs in library pilot scheme

Cornwall Council’s library services have teamed up with rural pubs the Star Inn at Vogue, near Redruth, and the Ship Inn at Lerryn, near Lostwithiel, both of which have opened up community library facilities.

To make it happen, funds were provided by the rural services organisation Pub is The Hub and its Community Services Fund.

John Longden, chief executive of Pub is the Hub, said: “It is amazing what a small amount of funding and a great partnership of the kind we have with Cornwall Council’s library services can put together. These two pilot projects are the first of their kind and evolved from some community workshops we ran in 2012 with the support of the Big Lottery through our Community Champions initiative.

“We’re hoping the community appreciates what these great licensees are doing and the end result is long-term sustainability for a great asset — the pub. If all goes well, it could be a scheme other library service providers in other areas of the UK might consider.”