Saved library begins a new chapter with launch of cinema
Thompson, said: “It’s quite an old population in Whitburn and the nearest cinema is four or five miles away.
“I thought it would be a nice idea for people to be able to walk to somewhere local to see a film.”
The first ever film screening at the cinema had residents singing along to ABBA classics like Dancing Queen, Super Trouper and Mamma Mia.
Organisers said the screening was well attended by residents in the community, and the group is hoping the cinema night will be the first of many to come.
Film screenings in the cinema will be free of charge, and refreshments will be available at a price, with the idea behind the initiative being to make the library sustainable for years to come.
Funding for the cinema came from the National Lottery,
and the library is looking for new ways to reach out to residents in the area and become a community hub for Whitburn.
Since reopening last April, the library has seen an increased footfall. It has also established links with local primary schools.
Library trustee, Bill Quigley spoke about the community reaction to the new cinema and the library being saved last year.
He said: “The reaction since reopening has been very positive. We’ve become more than just a library.
“This place is vital to the community.
“People need places like this, it’s some people's only point of social contact.”
Whitburn Village Library currently connects with the community by being more than just a library.
Activities hosted at the library include quizzes, music nights, talks and children’s classes.