Children love meeting the tiger who came to live at village library
WE have all heard about The Tiger Who Came for Tea, but have you heard about the tiger who came to live at an East Staffordshire library?
Volunteers who run Barton under Needwood library say the large, stripey tiger toy sprawled on a shelf in the children’s section was a donation some time ago, but apart from that, nothing is known about it.
Still, he’s a big attraction for youngsters who come for story time sessions at the Dunstall Road facility, which have included Judith Kerr’s famous tale The Tiger Who Came For Tea.
The library, which is owned by Staffordshire County Council, is something of a hidden gem. Run in partnership with Midlands NHS Foundation Partnership Trust, it is getting back into its stride after the disruptions of the pandemic.
The library has a links with Thomas Russell primary and children’s schools in the village, with pupils encouraged to take books out when they visit. It also offers children’s crafts.
The library’s regular users include a family history group on Mondays and a knit and natter group (like at Burton library) which meets on Thursdays. Just starting up is a card-making group on Fridays. Just like at other Staffordshire libraries, help is available via an IT buddy for those who struggle with computers.
The library also offers a home reading scheme for anyone unable to visit the building in person.
The NHS trust sees the building as an important benefit for the community, something volunteers Marilyn Davis, who has been there since it opened as a community library in 2016, and her colleague Liz Rush, a retired secretary at Burton roofing firm Marley, firmly agree with. There are around 30 volunteers who keep the place running smoothly, around half of whom have been there since the start, but more are always welcome.
One volunteer has to use a wheelchair, but is still a valuable member of the library team.
According to Liz and Marilyn, a retired primary school head, it serves as a sort of job for her. Liz added: “I don’t know what she would do without the library.”
Looking back at her own wish to become a volunteer, Marilyn said: “It was a lovely way to get to know people in the village.”
Barton library is open on Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays from 10am to 5pm, on Fridays from 10am to 2pm and on Saturdays from 10am to 1pm. It will be closed on this week’s bank holidays.
People who want to become volunteers should get in touch with the library.