PEOPLE in Addingham are at last seeing open doors again at the Old School, home to the Community Library and Hub.

After months of closure both the library and hub are fully open again from September 1, although they will remain closed for now on Saturday mornings.

The volunteer team running the library have been busy getting ready for this big moment – all users were asked for their views on how they’d like to use the library going forward, and preparations were being made to organise more home deliveries and run a click and collect service if necessary.

However, against expectations, people overwhelmingly said they wanted to continue coming in themselves to choose their books as before.

The library team has measures in place to ensure social distancing and sanitary protections – even the books are being quarantined.

The hub is also welcoming visitors, although the tea bar and cosy corner activities for children are not running at the moment.

As the door into the hub is approached from the narrow path to the rear of the Old School, which could be something of a pinch-point, people are asked to book their visits online so numbers circulating inside the small space can be safely controlled.

For September, the hub is featuring a special exhibition mounted by the Civic Society History Group on the Photo Archive.

This displays a selection of historic photos of the village, showcasing the work being done by members of the group, with financial support from Addingham Parish Council, to sort, catalogue and digitise the entire collection.

The August display, by the Saplings Group, can still be seen in the virtual gallery online.

Chair of Addingham Parish Council and library Trustee, Catherine Coates, said it was well worth taking the time to organise a visit

“It is such a relief to be re-opening these facilities,” she said.

“Without them, something has been missing in the heart of the village.

“During the months of lockdown, we’ve been keeping things going with virtual activities and displays, on our website galleries and in the library window, and these have been appreciated by people, but now we all need to look forward to moving on.”

The hub can be booked for use by small groups (up to six people) again. Sessions are booked online or by contacting the Administrator – addinghampc2@gmail.com

Further information and photos of the exhibitions run during the lockdown are available on the Council website – www.addingham-pc.gov.uk – and see the Photo Archive on www.addingham.info

The Old School on Main Street, a Grade II listed building, was refurbished in 2018/19.