New Birkdale community library at old Station Master’s House to open in January 2021

A new community library in Birkdale in Southport will open in January. 

The facility will open in the former Station Master’s House after a long-running community campaign by local volunteers to return a library to the area for the first time in eight years. 

The previous Birkdale Library, on Liverpool Road, was one of seven across the borough which were closed by Sefton Council in 2013 in a bid to make £400,000 budget savings. The others which closed at the time were: Ainsdale, Aintree, Churchtown, Crosby, Litherland and Orrell. 

Five years ago, the group was offered the use of the old Station Master’s House at a peppercorn rent and the volunteers have since undergone major works to give the building new life as Birkdale Community Hub and Library.

Over 1,500 books, half of the current stock of 3,000, have now been catalogued and volunteers are currently working to get them on the shelves.

The library system will be ready to go in January, allowing people to reserve books online and come to The Station Master’s House to join the library and collect their free membership card and books.  

All books have been received as generous donations and there is now a large range of adult fiction and children’s books, with other categories to be added soon.  

The former Birkdale Library on Liverpool Road in Birkdale in Southport

Although the library will be a click and collect only service until Covid restrictions are lifted and it is safe for people to come into the library and browse, there are also limited facilities for people unable to use the internet to visit the library and be assisted by a volunteer to choose books.

The library is, and always will be, a free service for the local community.  

There are also meeting rooms with wifi access and a fully equipped IT suite. These are available for hire to Covid-safe business users and will be available to local charitable, community and social groups.

Terry Durrance, chairman of the trustees of the Birkdale Station Masters House, said: “I am pleased and proud that we have reached this milestone in providing the local community with this central hub which was intended to provide the local area with a replacement for the previous council run library in Liverpool Road.

“In fact, it has developed into so much more than that and the future looks bright for a whole range of community services and activities which will benefit local people for years to come.

“It would have been good to have marked the occasion with a big opening ceremony. Unfortunately, covid has denied us that opportunity. Perhaps when the situation allows, we might be able to hold some sort of event later next year.

“The Station Masters House is for you. Use it and enjoy it.”

The library will be open on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10am to 8pm and Saturday mornings from 10am to 1pm, starting on Tuesday, January 26th.

• Donations to assist with the costs of running and maintaining the library are always welcome and details of the Friends of The Station Master’s House and the 200 Club can be found at The Station Master’s House | Library and Community Hub in Birkdale Village

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