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The Gibson Library
2 King Street
Saffron Walden
Essex CB10 1ES
Telephone: 0345 6037628
(Switchboard – ask for Saffron Walden Gibson Library)
Email: society@gibsonlibrary.org.uk
Governance
The Gibson Library is a registered charity (Registered Charity in England and Wales No. 310665). The Gibson Library Trust owns both the collections and the building which houses the Library.
Its charitable aims are:
- The maintenance and improvement of the library
- The provision of library facilities additional to those normally provided by the council under the public libraries and museums act 1964
Essex County Council is the sole trustee and works through Essex Libraries with the Gibson Library Society (a separate charity) to run and maintain the Library and its collections. Staff at Saffron Walden Public Library work with volunteers from the Society and manage the borrowing of books from the Gibson Library lending collection.
As the trustee, Essex County Council has strongly supported the Digital Discovery Project and the Heritage Lottery Funding Application which has made it possible. The digitisation of rare books and other items that is part of the project will protect the collection from wear and tear, damage or loss. Many items in the Gibson Library are unique or rare, and local ephemera and photography collections are irreplaceable. The Gibson Library’s natural history collection will be more accessible online, fostering appreciation for the environment. The Flora project will engage the public in monitoring local habitats. The Library aims to involve more young people through digitisation projects with schools and online curriculum resources. Reminiscence boxes will engage elderly residents. Volunteer support is crucial, and the project will enhance volunteer management and training through structured cataloguing and digitisation tasks.
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