Official opening of remodelled library

On Thursday 5 September 2019, the Dinas Powys Library & Activity Centre held its official event to mark the reopening of the remodelled/modernised library and the new café and function room. Special guest who spoke of the importance of community projects like this included Wynne Evans (opera singer, radio broadcaster, Mr GoCompare), Jane Hutt AM for the Vale of Glamorgan, and Lis Burnett (Deputy Leader of Vale of Glamorgan Council). Wynne Evans also sang a little song that filled the library space with music. The photos below also feature Julie Morgan AM, and Chris Franks and Keith Hatton (library trustees):

Dinas Powys Library reopens

This morning, the new IT was installed and the doors opened at the refurbished library. There are now more computer terminals for library users, and a function room that can be hired for diverse activities. The Coffee Shop will be opening in the near future.

Some photos from this morning.

Toasting the completion of library renovations

On Friday, trustees and volunteers met in Dinas Powys Library & Activity Centre (Diplac) to see the results of the renovation work, which has been carried out by Precision Construction. It just needs the IT to be put in place, before the library re-opens at 10 am on Monday 29 April. The renovation work has been part-funded by the European Union (EAFRD) through Welsh Ministers.

Here trustees and volunteers toast the completion of the work (and help behind the counter in the new kitchen/coffee bar area), while other photos show the new function room and the traditional library stacks.

These recent photos show the ongoing remodelling work going on in Dinas Powys Library & Activity Centre, a volunteer-run community library in the Vale of Glamorgan. The project is partly-funded by the European Union through Welsh Government Ministers. In the first photo, Clare Richardson. Keith Katton and Marianne Cowpe from the library are flanked by members of the Precision Construction team who are doing the building work. In other photos, the first look at some of the new flooring and lighting.

New library taking shape

Some photos taken today of the Dinas Powys Library & Activity Centre rebuilding project, which is part-funded by the European Union through Welsh Government Ministers.

Note the larger windows, which will let more natural light into the building.

Electricians and Plasterers have been busy in the library

Photos taken this morning in Dinas Powys Library & Activity Centre, where the electricians and plasterers have been busy. The new function room, reception area and lkitchen/coffee shop areas starting to take shape.

Library renovation

Some pictures taken this morning of the remodelling work in Dinas Powys library.

Temporary library opens in Bethesda Chapel

From today until Saturday 13 April 2019, Dinas Powys library will operate its usual opening hours at a temporary location in nearby Bethesda Chapel.

In the first photo, church worker Matthew Lewis and Keith Hatton (Library Trustee and Re-building project Sponsor/Manager) stand by the banner outside the Chapel. Other photos show inside the temporary library (turn right inside the entrance), and finally the chapel and the library in the same shot.

Dinas Powys Library announces logo competition winner

Dinas Powys Library & Activity Centre (DiPLAC) has a new logo, thanks to a competition organised with local schools.

Rianna Mitchell of Dinas Powys Primary School won the first prize and a digitised version of her design is now being used on all the library’s publicity material.

Barbara Daniels, Sue Williams, Keith Hatton and Don Clarey, members of the volunteer-run community library in Dinas Powys, announced the competition last November. They judged the entries and presented the awards at an assembly at the Murch Junior School on 22 March.

“We were very impressed with the standard of entries,” said Mr Hatton, a Trustee of the library. “In decision-making, we had to strictly rely on the guidelines we set about shape, lettering, colours and readability.”

Gabriella Operanta and Dylan Lingham-Gollop, both of Dinas Powys Primary School, won second and third prize, respectively. All the winners were presented with vouchers and certificates.

The digital version of Rianna’s logo was produced by Danny Daniels, a pupil of Stanwell School in Penarth, as part of his Welsh Baccalaureate 'Community Project' with the library.

You can view a display of the winning and highly recommended entries in the DiPLAC lobby.

The new DiPLAC logo.

Trustee Keith Hatton presents Rianna Mitchell with her award.

Trustees Barbara Daniels, Sue Williams, Keith Hatton and Don Clarey in front of entries on display in the DiPLAC foyer.

Upcoming Activities & Events

UPCOMING EVENTS AND ACTIVITIES

Monday 13 March 2017: Digital Drop-In. For expert advice on your electronic gadgets. 10:00-12:00. Call Keith Hatton to book a place 077-4982-5751. and every Monday if demand.

Thursday 16 March 2017: Welsh medium pre-nursery story time and crafts. During morning.

Friday 17 March 2017: Coding classes (with James) 15:30-16:30.

Friday 24 March 2017: An Evening of Music. A fund-raising event for the library. Parish Hall, Dinas Powys. From 19:30.

The signing of the lease and service level agreement

Chris Franks and Keith Hatton, with other members of the Steering Committee (l-r: Marianne Cowpe, Clare Richardson, Stuart Hockley, Carol Hockley, Joan Andrews and Mary Templing), formally sign the lease and Service Level Agreement with the Vale of Glamorgan Council, to complete the transfer of the Dinas Powys Library over to the "Dinas Powys Library & Activity Centre" Trustees.

Community Library opening hours

 Library Opening Hours are Changing

on

Monday 31^st October 2016

·       On Monday 31^st October 2016 DPL&AC Volunteers will take over the running of the Library from the Vale of Glamorgan Council.

·       These are trained volunteers from within our community.

·       At the moment we have sufficient volunteers to open as follows-

          Mon – Wed              10-12  &  2-4

         Thurs                         10-12

         Fri                               10-12  &  2-4

         Sat                               10-12     

·       The DPL&AC Trustees aim to extend these opening hours as more volunteers come forward.

·       IF you are interested in volunteering to help us achieve this ambition please call Keith Hatton for more information.

          077-4982-5751

                    or

          email – khatton263@btinternet.com   

Dinas Powys Community Library becomes a Registered Charity

Last week, the Charity Commission announced: "We are satisfied that DINAS POWYS LIBRARY AND ACTIVITY CENTRE is a charity and it has been entered onto the Register of Charities with the Registered Charity Number 1169059."

The Community Library and Activity Centre will operate as a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO). It's details are no publicly available to view on the Charity Commission website within the next couple of days.

This means that the Community Library and Activity Centre is now an official entity, and it has now been able to open a bank account with the CAF Bank and move forward on other fronts. An official hand-over date should be announced shortly.

The Steering Committee of Dinas Powys Community Library and Activity Centre has stated to the Vale of Glamorgan Council that they wish the Library to be transferred to the DPL&AC  on Monday 31^st October 2016.

A rota of volunteers has been drawn up, but more volunteers will be welcome to ensure longer opening hours.

If you would like to volunteer please see previous posts on this blog for an application form and further details.

Update 20 June 2016

DINAS POWYS LIBRARY & ACTIVITY CENTRE

UPDATE – 20^th June 2016

What is DPL&AC?

When the Vale of Glamorgan Council made the decision no longer to support our library the choice was to lose it altogether or for volunteers to take over its management and day-to-day work. After several public meetings a steering group led by two of our Councillors, Keith Hatton and Chris Franks, was set up.

Where are we now?

·        Planning:

o   Application for Charitable status has been made and is with the Charity Commission

o   Lease of the building and Service Level Agreement with Vale of Glamorgan Council are in the final review stage

o   Draft plans for building extension are with an architect

o   Bank account applied for

o   Grant application to the Rural Development Programme is being made

o   Policies on, Health and Safety, Safeguarding the Vulnerable, Equal opportunities, and Volunteering are in final draft

o   Insurance is being arranged

·        Volunteering:

o   Our professional librarian has trained our initial volunteers and further sessions are in progress

o   OPAC (On line Catalog) training at Barry remains available

o   VoGC have agreed that volunteers can start from now working with the professional librarians in our library

o   Volunteers remain the key to the success of DPL&AC

·        Where next?

o   Our provisional starting date depends on approval of our Charity status and completion of legal agreements with Vale of Glamorgan Council.

o   We need more volunteers

o   We need your views  ON ALL aspects of the project

IF YOU CAN OFFER HELP PLEASE CONTACT:

Keith Hatton, e-mail: khatton263@btinternet.com or Tel: 077 4982 5751