Libraries are an important part of local communities, offering resources, spaces and opportunities to connect with others.
When Taibach Library was threatened with closure, a group of passionate local people stepped in to save it. In May 2014, the library became a charity, run entirely by volunteers determined to keep it alive. Since then, the team has worked tirelessly to improve the library and ensure it remains open for everyone.
Now, 11 years on, Taibach Community Library is thriving. With clubs, groups, and a wide range of services, it has once again become the lifeblood of the community.
One of the biggest challenges, however, has always been poor internet connectivity. For years, this held the library back — limiting its ability to offer digital support, making payments unreliable, preventing CCTV from being properly connected, and forcing staff to complete many tasks manually.
Taibach Community Library was one of eight organisations in Neath Port Talbot who were awarded free fibre broadband for 5 years from Virgin Media O2, as part of their social value offering from the Dark Fibre East project.
With reliable broadband in place, the library can now build on its popular programme of activities - from family history research to IT help sessions - and add more digital elements to support local people. Having a fast, reliable internet connection has opened up a new level of service provision for Taibach Community Library, as Chair of Trustees, Luke Coles explains:
"Having this internet connection has been a game changer for the library. People can now connect to a fast, reliable Wi-Fi connection without having to wait long periods for pages to load. We’re also able to run weekly drop-in sessions to help people get the most out of their own devices."
We’re really proud of what we’ve achieved over the past 11 years. From the threat of closure, we’ve turned the library into a real gem for the community. Now, with faster broadband, we can only see it going from strength to strength."
The upgrade hasn’t just improved services for the public - it has also revolutionised how the library is run.
Library Coordinator Susan Grundy said:
Better broadband has transformed our day-to-day work. Our till is now connected to the Wi-Fi, so card payments are no longer an issue. We also have greater security, as our CCTV can be accessed remotely via an app, allowing us to respond quickly to any risks. All of our accounting, stock checking and pricing is now done online, saving us hours of manual work and freeing up more time to support our visitors.Susan Grundy, Taibach Library
