The keys were hand over from LCC to ourselves in December 2015 and a call was made for Volunteers to help run the library. Those who answered the call were then invited to training days within the library and that set the ball rolling for the library to open. The Volunteers have now become a 'Family' and several times during the year we have Social Evenings or Afternoons when we can all get together away from the library and have some fun!
During the first few months of opening we invited our library users, young and old, to purchase a tile to decorate with a Leicester Forest East theme and have created a spectacular mural which is on the wall to the left of the Front Desk.
On the 2nd July 2016 we had an Opening Ceremony to unveil our new plaque showing that we are Managed and Run for the Community by the Community.
Drinks and cakes were available to purchase and we had a lovely morning celebrating with our library users.
In 2017 we had our 'One Year' celebration with Lynda Bakewell, one of our long standing Volunteers, making this magnificent, delicious cake that was cut and handed out to our Library users.
Over the years we have introduced various Groups run by the Volunteers to help us to raise funds for the library. Most of these have been successful but some have been a flop, but we will continue to introduce new groups for the community.
We have the Craft Group on a Wednesday evening, and a Coffee and Chat Group on a Wednesday morning for the senior citizens in the community which has gone from strength to strength. Every year we throw a party for the Coffee and Chat Group with, sandwiches, mince pies and a small gift.
There is the Construction Club every other Friday evening for the youngsters and Story & Rhyme for pre-school children from 2.30pm to 3pm.
And of course, we have our 1st Saturday of the Month Coffee Morning where our volunteers offer delicious home made cakes, made by their own fair hands, for us to savour.
We also have various groups that hire the library, such as Bosom Babies on a Monday morning, Yoga on a Tuesday morning and the LE3 Ladies Group every 3rd Thursday of the Month.
Countless fairs / fetes have been held, in all weathers, with various stalls inside and out with stall holders selling their various wares.
The library usually has a few stalls running selling 2nd hand books, a Tombola stall, Lucky Dips for the children as well as a craft table with a variety of crafty activities.
Refreshments being available at the library during these times.
The children in the community have come along to the Library to take part in our Art & Craft and Activity days during the various school holidays. They have made rockets, masks, christmas decorations, easter themed crafts and more.
We have had outdoor activities as well, the funniest of which was musical spots! We placed various round pieces of paper in the car park and the children had to jump on one when the music stopped. Unfortunately it was a windy day and the spots were blowing all over the place but the children had such fun!
They take part in the 'Summer Reading Challenge, the most memorable one being in 2019 when the University of Leicester bought their Planetarium Show to the library, the dome only just fitting in!
We have also been open on Halloween, decorating the library for the occasion so the children could pop in and collect their treats, decorate spooky biscuits and visit the 'Scary Witches Cave'. The Volunteers got into the spirit of things as well by dressing as Ghosts, Wizards and 'Maleficent.
The adults have experienced a Murder, Mystery evening which went down well, we must do one again!
Quiz Nights are also popular, with the teams being very competitive. During the evening we have a break and a Ploughmans Supper is served.
We have also held a couple of Bingo Nights for Cash Prizes and fun was had by all.
