Overview: the history to present day

The Haddenham Library first opened its doors on 14th September 1964.  It was situated in the old Co-Op china shop, at 12 High Street.  Freda Crofts was the Librarian, and later Mary Russell was her deputy.  In 1972 it moved from the High Street into the Arkenstall Centre where it is currently situated. 

During the 1990s, the Library came under threat of closure from the County Council for the first time.  It was after a meeting to discuss the closure, that the Friends of Haddenham Library was formed in 1995 with the objective of promoting all Library activities. 

Despite attempts by the Friends to keep the Library open, it eventually closed on the 6th September 2003. 

In the meantime, the Friends considered the options, and after discussion and consultation, and with public support, decided to reinstate the Library as a voluntary enterprise.  The Haddenham Library was reopened on 27th October 2003 by local author Jean Adamson, writer of the Topsy and Tim children’s books. 

The Library service provided approximately 1,000 books and the computer issuing system, as well as some financial help.  This was on condition that the Library achieved stipulated borrowing levels, applicable for three years until Autumn 2006. 

In the first year, more books were obtained through gifts, donations and purchases, resulting in full bookshelves totalling approximately 5,000 volumes.

Present

At present there are 20 volunteers who cover various shifts at the Library.  Their duties include issuing and returning books, enrolling new members and helping the public with their enquiries.  Volunteers must be CRB checked and have to adhere to County Council policies and procedures.

Membership of Cambridgeshire Libraries is free and entitles members to borrow a maximum of 12 books for a period of 3 weeks.  Books may be renewed 3 times. Many books not available on the shelves can be ordered through the Library Service, with a small fee for Adult fiction titles. 

The general public has donated many books, especially non-fiction on the shelves.  Books that are donated must be in good condition in order to be considered for Library use.  Donated stock is sorted into categories, based on subject matter, and then catalogued.  With a barcode attached, the book is then processed with a date label and a category sticker.  It is then ready to go on the shelf.

Ten times a year, a stock exchange takes place, where 100 of the books provided by the Library service are swapped for different titles.  These books are usually newly published paperbacks, which The Haddenham Library could not otherwise afford to stock.  Over the year, the Library exchanges 450 children’s fiction, 100 large print and 450 adult fiction. 

The Library has two computers with Internet access, plus a computer with scanner for other use.  There are also other facilities, including a photocopier and a laminator.  Information on local events, tourist information and adult education courses is provided, plus a wide selection of telephone directories and Yellow Pages for East Anglia.

The Family Reading Group (FRoGs) takes place on the first Thursday of every month during term time.  Children read selected books with their parents and talk about what they’ve read.  At the end of the session, they get squash, Jaffa cakes and biscuits.

Tadpoles, the infant group have a half hour reading session every Monday afternoon during term time from 2.30pm.

Every summer, the Library Service promotes reading for children with a themed Reading Challenge.  Stickers are placed in their logbooks after reading a book, and when they have read six books, they have finished the challenge and receive various puzzles and colouring-in sheets to complete.  At the end of the scheme, all the children who have finished the Challenge are invited to a party at the Library to receive their certificate and a medal.

The Adult Reading Group (HARP) is a small group of readers who meet monthly to discuss a selection of books.  These books are selected by the group and ordered through the Library service.

The Friends of Haddenham Library is a small group of varied individuals, some from other village organisations, who meet bi-monthly to discuss the management of the Library.  Meeting times and dates are displayed on the notice boards in the Library.

Membership of the Friends is only £1.00 minimum annually, although some individuals pledge larger amounts and donate monthly/quarterly. 

The Village Archive:

Haddenham has been very fortunate that Freda Crofts has collected lots of material over numerous years, including parish records, photographs and newspapers clippings for the County Council.  These form the basis of the village archive.  The albums contain photographs of parish events, village locations and families.  There are numerous scrapbooks including the Haddenham pantomime from 1974 to the present day, and several are full of newspaper cuttings of stories relevant to the village donated by the late Violet Barnes and Kath Peacock.  The archive also contains burial records and the Markwell family tree. 

The Library holds an extensive Local Studies collection.  Most of the books in this section are about Cambridgeshire and the Fens, with many books relating to Haddenham and Ely.

Library Opening Hours are:

Monday, Wednesday and Friday, 2.30-5.00

Monday and Friday 6.00-7.30 

Saturday 10.00-12.00. 

Telephone/Fax  01353 740624

Submitted by Moira Goddard 13th July 2006