BEARWOOD bookworms now have their very own community library – the first in Poole.

Stocked with a wide selection of books available to be lent to eager readers of all ages, Bearwood Community Library is situated within Bearwood Community Centre in King John Avenue.

Borough of Poole library staff have been working with a team of dedicated volunteers to set up the new library, an initiative to replace the ageing mobile library, which last December was reprieved until the middle of this year.

The library is being run by the community centre and its volunteers, opening every Wednesday morning between 10.15am and 12.30pm.

Borrowers do not need to be a member of Poole libraries to borrow a book and there are no fees or charges for the service. While it is only open one morning a week, community centre members can use it at any time.

“We’re very proud of the hard work that our volunteers and centre manager have put into the new community library,” said Leslie Legg, Bearwood Com-munity Centre chairman.

“We hope that local people will pay us a visit to see for themselves the great range of books on offer, as well as finding out more about all the other activities we have on offer.”

Among library volunteers is Cllr David Brown, ward member for Merley and Bearwood, who said: “The new library is set to be a real asset for local people. It has been great to see residents working together to get the library set up; it’s a real testament to their hard work and determination.”

Cllr Xena Dion, cabinet portfolio holder for libraries, said: “It has been great to see the amount of interest from groups across Poole in running their own library, which will ensure residents have access to a library service in the heart of their community.”

The library is appealing for donations of unwanted books and DVDs.

To find out more, call centre manager Lynn Rowe on 07975 627515.