About Us
Our friendly volunteers can help you find just the right book. Our large stock includes:
- Fiction, classic fiction and crime fiction
- Plenty of non-fiction, including local interest and local history
- Large-print books, DVDs and talking books
- Order any book from the vast stock held in the LibrariesWest catalogue (there is a small charge for this)
- Download e-books free from the LibrariesWest website using your library card
Information
If there’s anything you want to know, you’ll probably find the information you need here at the library, including:
- Leaflets and brochures about local and national organisations
- Local papers
- Local events
- Village and Quantock walks leaflets and maps
Just Relax
We’ve created a friendly corner where you can sit down and relax with a cup of coffee, tea or hot chocolate. Why not enjoy a magazine from our free magazine swap scheme? Or meet up for a chat with your friends – you won’t see any ‘No Talking’ notices here!
Groups and events
There is always plenty happening at the library. Various groups meet here, including Knit and Natter, Mahjongg, Play Reading Group, and Book Group.
We hold regular second-hand book sales.
We also hold regular evening talks and presentations.
Ask our volunteers for details. Maybe you belong to a group that would like a place to meet? Ask our volunteers about this too.
Trustees & Management
Nigel Phillips
Trustee
Chair
Nigel has spent most of his working life in nature reserve management and conservation, primarily with the Wildlife Trusts. Most recently, he chaired the Somerset Wildlife Trust’s Marine Awareness Campaign for ten years.
His work has involved developing plans for large-scale conservation projects, including funding strategies.
In addition to his conservation efforts, Nigel has served as an Associate Staff Tutor at Reading University, where he taught natural history and ecology. He also held the position of Chair of Governors at his children’s primary school for six years.
Nigel is the author of three books on the wildlife found along Somerset’s coast and has just completed another book focused on the wildlife and habitats of the Quantock Hills.
An avid reader, he has been borrowing books from the Thomas Poole Library since 1985.
Norma Frood
Trustee
Membership
Norma Frood, BA ALA, is a former Chartered Librarian with strong IT skills.
She has experience in various areas, including funding applications, report writing, promotional work and publicity, hosting group visits, and organizing conferences and events.
Additionally, she is skilled in building multi-agency partnerships and has contributed data for the national Early Excellence Centre evaluation program. Furthermore, she has administered training programs for Bridgwater College’s Forest School and Children’s Centre Leadership.
Sue Aubrey
Trustee
Sue is a former social worker for local government, specializing in working with children and families.
She has experience in multi-agency collaboration, staff and volunteer training and supervision, and running workshops and community group committees.
Sue possesses strong people skills and is a good listener.
She moved to Nether Stowey in 1980, and her three daughters attended Nether Stowey School, followed by Haygrove. Additionally, she served as a governor for Nether Stowey School.or and involved in school activities
Eliza Sackett
Trustee
Secretary
Eliza Sackett, MA, managed the mail order department of a bookshop chain.
Along with her husband, she operated an antiquarian and second-hand book business.
Together, they also edited and wrote exhibition materials and books for clients, including the Francis Frith photographic archive, the BBC, and the National Trust.
Terence Sackett
Trustee
Marketing and Publicity
Terence has dedicated his career to the book trade and marketing. He has authored novels, designed his own books, and created book designs for other writers.
A passionate enthusiast of Coleridge, he gives talks and leads walks focused on the Romantic poets. Terence also managed the publishing division of the Francis Frith photographic archive.
Alongside his wife, he has written and designed interpretation panels for the National Trust.
Additionally, he has designed interpretation panels for various organizations in and around Nether Stowey, including the Tom Poole panel located in the library.
Catherine Christie
Trustee
Catherine is a former senior civil servant with extensive experience in policy development and successful delivery, particularly in post-16 and further education.
She remains actively involved in education for children and young people as a director and trustee of two Multi Academy Trusts in Somerset and Wiltshire.
Having arrived in Nether Stowey in 1987, she feels privileged to be part of the wonderful library community.
Chris Pearson
Trustee
Vice-Chair
Think less about what the village can do for me and more about what I can do for the village.
Central to that is the Thomas Poole Library and Village Hub. Come and join in.
Eric Coates
Treasurer
Eric Coates, M.A., was born in London and attended a local elementary school before going to a direct grant grammar school. He then studied at St John’s College, Oxford.
During his National Service, he served in the Royal Air Force from 1961 to 1991.
He built a successful career in computer consultancy, working with major manufacturers, and went on to run his own company from 1991 to 2003. After working in both Europe and the USA, he retired to Nether Stowey in 2005.
In addition to his professional work, he has served as the past Chairman of the Twinning Association and as the President of the Probus Club.
Mission Statement
The Thomas Poole Library Nether Stowey promotes and inclusively delivers high-quality library, leisure, heritage, environmental and education services to residents of Nether Stowey and surrounding communities, in collaboration with its partners and a team of volunteers
Objects
- For the public benefit, the provision and maintenance of a library in Nether Stowey, Somerset and library service for the village and surrounding parishes;
- To promote for the benefit of the residents of Nether Stowey and the surrounding area the provision of a public library for recreation and or other leisure time occupation of individuals who require such facilities because of their youth, age, infirmity or disablement, financial hardship or social and economic circumstances or for the public at large in the interests of social welfare and with the object of improving the condition of life of the said residents.
- To advance the education of the public in the history and heritage of the area, in particular of the lives of Samuel Taylor Coleridge and local benefactor Thomas Poole and the local environment.
Get Involved
Your local library is at the heart of the community.
Of course, you’ll find a huge choice of good books to read here. But that’s not all.
The Thomas Poole Library is also a place to meet your friends and make new ones, a place to enjoy your hobbies and interests, a place where the children in your family can find fun and stimulation – and a place where you can simply unwind with a cup of coffee and a magazine.
You don’t have to be a member of the library to visit us. Why not drop in, see what we have to offer, and have a chat with our friendly, helpful volunteers?
It might be that you want to be more involved. Perhaps you’d like to join the library so that you can borrow books, or support the library by joining the Thomas Poole Library Charity, or join one of the many groups and societies that meet here, or be one of our wonderful volunteers.
Click the Join the Library button below and find out more about how you can support our library, a vitally important part of our community.