A Library’s Lifeline:

For the past 15 years, Roger Stacey has been a driving force behind the library. Although he is stepping down as Chair and Trustee, we’re thrilled that he will continue to volunteer at the library counter, where his invaluable professional skills will help us take care of the building.

Without Roger Stacey, Nether Stowey might not have a library. Since 2010, Roger has worked unbelievably hard to ensure its survival.

In 2010, Somerset County Council announced that it was proposing to cease funding some libraries in Somerset, including Nether Stowey. Roger was a member of the Nether Stowey Community Library Steering Committee, which produced a business plan to fund and run the library.

During this period, the Friends of Somerset Libraries, library support groups from all over the county, were formed—again, Roger played a large part in their campaigning. FoSL played a large part in securing a Judicial Review of the proposed library closures; it found that these were unlawful. Nether Stowey Library remained open.

In 2012, Roger chaired the Friends of Nether Stowey Library (FoNSL), which was formed to support the library’s work in Nether Stowey and the wider community. FoNSL arranged monthly evening talks and other regular library activities, which continue.

In 2018 SCC required the Library Service to reduce its costs. It seemed likely that the library would close.

The Parish Council had discussions with SCC and a working group from FoNSL, and it became clear that the PC was not able to finance or manage the library. Meanwhile, SCC had decided to establish Community Library Partnerships with libraries that might otherwise be closed. FoNSL proposed that it should become a Registered Charity (The Thomas Poole Library, Nether Stowey), enter into partnership with SCC, and organise volunteers to staff the library, and TPLNS started discussions with SCC.

Early in 2019, volunteers were recruited, and training began. In March, the Community Library Partnership Agreement was signed, and on 1 April 2019, our library was managed and staffed entirely by volunteers for the first time. Since then, Roger has guided and encouraged the volunteers and given a warm welcome to everyone who visits the library.

Ever since 2010, Roger has been steadfast in his determination to keep Stowey’s library open; not only as a place where everyone can borrow books for free, but also as a place where children can have fun and grow a love for reading, where groups and societies can meet, where it’s warm and safe in the winter cold, where people can see exhibitions and displays, and where they can hear talks – Roger’s belief has always been that the library is also a hub for our community.

Since 2010, Roger has attended and chaired many meetings, made many important decisions, consulted often with the Library Service, overseen the repair and maintenance of our historic library building, undertaken countless other tasks, and still found time to volunteer behind the library counter.

Roger’s quiet competence is the key to everything he’s achieved. His subtle sense of humour gets to the nub of the matter. His unassuming expertise in all kinds of topics has always been an invaluable guide. In any kind of meeting, his quiet good sense has always achieved at the very least a sensible compromise, and usually the right solution.

Thanks to Roger’s calm captaincy, the library has survived its long voyage through innumerable reefs, rocks, and rapids. TPLNS believes that if we follow his example, we can steer the library through any stormy waters yet to come.

Roger deserves more gratitude than we can express for the survival of our library.

A new team steps up.

Three new Trustees have been appointed: Chris Pearson, Nigel Phillips, and Terence Sackett.

We are happy to announce that at the AGM on 30 October 2024, a new Chair was elected: Nigel Phillips. He will be ably supported by Chris Pearson as vice-Chair. We wish them well, and we are sure that the library will continue to grow from strength to strength.