Celebrating Three Libraries Unlimited Libraries Named Finalists for Library of the Year!
Posted on 04 Mar 2025We are incredibly proud to announce out of 36 finalists for Regional & Country Finalists for the Library of the Year, not one, but three of our libraries have been selected!
The Libraries Unlimited libraries selected as finalists by The Bookseller, sponsored by DK Books, in association with The Reading Agency, are Bideford Library, Exeter Library and Braunton Library!
It is an incredible and well-deserved achievement for the libraries nominated and we are so thrilled to see their hard work recognised. None of this would have been made possible without the support of the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, Arts Council England, Honeyscribe and the European Cultural Foundation.
We are always looking to improve individual and community well-being and tackle loneliness and isolation.
Discover the exciting projects that have taken place over the past year at our Regional & Country Finalists for the Library of the Year libraries.
Braunton Library hosted ‘The Gatherers’ project working with Honeyscribe and The Pickwell Foundation to help resettled Afghan families connect with their local community. Gathering flowers on well-being walks, they pressed them and made beautiful bookmarks, which are distributed as unexpected gifts tucked into books that go out on loan from the library.
Every Thursday, Bideford Library hold a Chatty Café. The Torridge community gather to meet new people and enjoy a chat and free refreshments. It creates a wonderful welcoming space for the people to gather, catch up and enjoy each other’s conversation and company. This project aims to improve individual and community wellbeing and tackle loneliness and isolation. The Chatty Café was made possible with funding from the Department for Culture, Media and Sport.
Exeter Library offers exciting inclusive events across the year. From library lates with silent and not-so-silent discos to cabaret and crafts, the library creates space for the local community to access affordable cultural events and enjoy fun activities together.