About us
Who we are
Whitburn Library is a community library run by the community, for the community, to ensure the continued provision of a free library service for the village of Whitburn. The library is a registered charity, Friends of Whitburn Library, and it is entirely led and supported by a team of volunteers. As a registered charity we rely upon donations, charitable grants, and fundraising through library events to ensure the continued provision of a free library service for the village.
Our library facilities include a large selection of adult and large-print books for lending, a dedicated children’s library section with books for lending, the ability to request, collect, and return books from other South Tyneside libraries, public computers with support available from volunteers, quiet study space for students, and photocopying and printing of documents.
Alongside its various facilities, the library proudly displays the Marsden Lodge Banner, representing the men who worked at Whitburn Colliery. This hand-painted banner is featured prominently inside the library. Additionally, there is a statue of Lewis Carroll, who frequently visited the village of Whitburn due to his family connections to the area.
Hire Our Space
The main library room and one community room are available for hire. The charge for the community room is £10 per hour; the main library room is £15 per hour with rearrangement of the library furniture provided to create an open space. The main library room has disabled level access; the community room has level access and can accommodate 8 people. There is an accessible toilet within the library for use during room hire.
If you would like to use any of these rooms to run an activity or hold a meeting, contact us at info@whitburnlibrary.co.uk for more information and availability.
Volunteer
As a community library, we are always in need of help and happy to welcome volunteers from all walks of life. Our library volunteers undertake tasks such as book issuing and returning, shelving, ICT management, cleaning/maintenance, digital communication, promotion, planning of library events, and customer support.
If you have any of these skills and want to help and volunteer with others, please visit the Library or contact us at info@whitburnlibrary.co.uk.
Volunteers' Experiences
"I have learned so much as a library volunteer. It gave me the opportunity to develop my IT and customer service skills in a workplace setting, something I couldn't do as a university student during COVID-19. Most rewardingly, I have met new people who share a love for reading, and I am glad to be part of a fab team." - JP
“I am a Duke of Edinburgh Gold volunteer, I chose Whitburn Library to volunteer at because it was local to me, and also to contribute to my local community. While volunteering here I have found it to be a very friendly and welcoming place with many books to choose from. While being here I have learned how to handle data and input it into spreadsheets via Excel. Volunteering here is a great way to get to know people and help your community.” - MH
“In my time volunteering at the library I have had lots of experiences and I have really enjoyed meeting and helping people from all over. Also I enjoy cleaning and organizing around the library (especially hoovering). I have also learned a range of new skills including making posters and advertising events.” - LK
Our Space
