A RECENTLY established community library will have a £7000 annual budget for new books.

Dinas Powys Library, which was handed over by the Vale council to the Dinas Powys Library and Activity Centre (DPLAC) group in November, has received a fresh stock of books in time for the new year.

The library, which is located in Fairoaks adjacent to Dinas Powys Primary School, now has around 40 volunteers fully operating the library.

It became the third library in the Vale to become community run as part of the Vale council's plans to establish five such facilities in the county.

The other four include Sully, Wenvoe, St Athan and Rhoose.

Cabinet agreed in February to establish the community libraries which it estimated would save the authority more than £500,000.

The Vale set aside £100,000 for start up costs and improvements to existing buildings and is providing ongoing support in the form of IT access, book stock and advice.

Chairman of the library trustees, Chris Franks said: "As we enter the new year we face an exciting period.

"We are quickly finding out how the building works in terms of heating, maintenance and holding events.

"Funding will obviously be a challenge so we are delighted to report that over the next three years we have secured £7000 each year worth of new stock.

"Also we are still linked with all libraries across the Vale and indeed Wales.

"This means if we do not have a particular book we can arrange for it to be supplied from an alternative library.

"We were very keen to ensure that this service continued. We also stock daily and weekly papers."

The trustees invite the public to visit the library either as lenders or potential volunteers.

The library is open from Monday to Saturday from 10am-noon and 2-4 pm apart from Thursdays and Saturdays when it is open in the mornings only.