Venue Description

We are a community managed library and hub at the heart of Long Buckby in Northamptonshire. We are a volunteer run CIO providing a welcoming community space offering much more than traditional library services. We provide a book borrowing facility and an inclusive social hub to promote education, welfare and wellbeing. Hub activities include: sessions for parents with babies/small children; social afternoons for older people; art, reading and craft groups; a meeting place for health walks; winter film nights; a bookable venue for meetings, talks, performances and events of community interest. We offer a selection of books for sale and have a jigsaw swap together with a small refreshments offer. We regularly hold art exhibitions by local artists with works available for sale. We also host regular sessions from our local surgery, parish council and county council for anyone wishing to speak to them directly.

Accessibility

Our building is on one ground floor level and therefore wheelchair and mobility scooter accessible, with no steps or ramps. Our main entrance has automatic doors for entry and an accessible height push pad for exit. The courtyard garden is accessible for wheelchairs and scooters from the building, however as this door is also a fire exit it is opened by a push bar. We have two toilets with one being fully accessible for wheelchairs and mobility scooters. Unfortunately we do not have a hoist. An Induction Loop System is available to assist hearing aid users with the T position. We also have a portable hearing loop at our reception desk and one that can be taken to any part of the building to be used in one to one or very small group situations. For events we can offer a lapel mic to speakers which connects to the induction loop to aid attendees who have the T position. All areas are accessible, including our childrens, book stock and refreshments areas. Our refreshments volunteers will bring items to visitors when ready.

Accessibility Guide

Accessibility Guide Link: https://buckbylibraryhub.org/visiting/

Toilets

Our accessible toilet, recently created in 2023, has step free access, room for wheelchairs and mobility scooters, grab rails and an alarm pull.

Staff

We have a part-time manager but are primarily served by a large group of volunteers covering all roles. As yet we have not provided any specific disability training.