Langney Shopping Centre played host to the BBC when its political correspondent came to visit the new community library this week (Monday November 5).
Alex Forsyth from BBC News was looking at ways communities are pulling together to get around the harsh cuts from county councils, which has seen the loss of nearly 600 libraries around the country.
The previous county council-run library closed in May and is being replaced by a new community library in Langney Shopping Centre, which is being set up entirely by volunteers, including local stalwarts Councillor Alan Shuttleworth and Candy Vaughan.
The BBC team met and interviewed Councillor Shuttleworth and students from West Rise Junior School, as they were the first group of children to visit the library.
Centre Manager, Neil Avis, said: “We didn’t want to see the community lose its much-loved library and were pleased to be able to be a part of the solution. We have agreed to let the library trust have the unit rent free and I look forward to seeing the library fully up and running in the coming weeks.”
Councillor Shuttleworth said: “I’ve been delighted at the way the community has pulled together to get the new library up and running. Libraries are so important, especially for children to develop a lifelong passion for reading, and I was pleased to talk to the BBC to highlight the issues that communities are facing.”