AFTER a year of discussions the Friends of Wool Library group are nearing the takeover of the village library.

The group was set up as Wool was one of nine libraries faced with the withdrawal of core funding from Dorset County Council and is now close to reaching a formal agreement to run the facility on behalf of the local community. The move has also seen the local parish council move in to share the library space, supporting the business plan put forward by the Friends group.

Chairman David Smith thanked all those who have supported the move to take over the running of the library.

He added: “Our team of volunteers will start training shortly so they too will be finding their feet.

“They intend to provide a service that the community, both the long-established and newcomers, wants and deserves.

“We are looking forward to closer co-operation with the local schools, supplementing their activities, particularly in extending both the skills and the joy of reading.”

The Friends group is still looking for volunteers who are willing to give up as little as three to six hours a month of their time to help keep the library open.

Anyone interested in finding out more is asked to contact Christine Reber on 07908 888347 or email fowl@reber.plus.com.