HOWLS AGM

 HOWLS - the Hay-on-Wye Library Supporters - haven't had an AGM since 2019, so it was nice to see that eleven people turned up, including the Library CIC President Barbara Erskine (one of our local famous novelists).

Due to the Treasurer moving away, there was a bit of a re-shuffle of the committee, so Anita Wright is now the Treasurer, Janet Robinson is Chair, and I am Secretary.  There isn't a lot to do at the moment, but we all agreed that it was best that HOWLS continues to exist, to keep an eye on Powys County Council, just in case we have to spring into action to save the library again.

The main responsibility at the moment lies with the Library CIC, and Michael Eccles gave us a run down of what they have been doing.  They are the body which negotiated with the PCC to keep the library open with the present hours and resources, and they contribute £5,000 a year to the running costs of the library, raised mainly by standing orders from local residents.  Hay Festival used to contribute to the library, but they are having financial problems of their own, and the personnel has changed since they agreed to the annual donation.  The CIC is looking for more people willing to make a standing order.

The CIC also has a vision of what the library can become in the community, which includes it being a hub for local community projects such as increasing local resilience in the face of climate change.  Michael has been active in trying to organise citizens' assemblies, which fit in well with the educational remit of the library.  He was at the last Climate Club meeting talking about this, too.  

So he's interested in three things: 

1. Can Hay secure its own supply of electricity?

2. Food security - this involves organising a contract between local farmers to grow the food which local people/businesses will buy.  There are already several groups working with self sufficiency and reducing food waste, such as the community gardens across the river, Our Food 1200/Ein Bwyd 1200, and Zero Waste Hay, as well as the people who make compost locally and well established businesses like Primrose Farm.  

3. Mental health - there are local mental health professionals who are working to find a way to identify people who are struggling with their mental health before they need to seek medical assistance.  Perhaps this would be because of being aware of the global and national problems in the news but feeling helpless to do anything about them.  Such people could be helped by putting them in contact with groups that are trying to make a difference, such as the groups that are growing food, or cooking meals for the hungry like Chapters and Bethesda Chapel.

Now all the lockdown restrictions are a thing of the past (though the librarians kept working, with their Order and Collect service), groups are starting to meet at the library again.

Story Time started slowly, but is now very popular on Monday mornings (with singing and percussion!)

Welsh Conversation is on Saturdays at 11am and can attract between two and ten people per session.

A Lego club has just started, and it's not just for kids - there was a suggestion that it might be a good activity for people who are beginning to have problems with dementia.

Enchanted Hour has also been popular.  On the first Friday of the month, at 2.30pm, a local author comes in to talk about their book.  This can attract around thirty people.

There is also computer help available on Thursdays.  The library would welcome more computer literate volunteers (or other volunteers).

All of these things show how vital the library is for the local community - and you can borrow books, and even Ipads now!  And there's a coffee machine.