Rothwell Town Council to manage library as new community hub
Transition aims to ensure continuity and growth under local leadership
Following discussions earlier this year, Rothwell Town Council is set to take over the lease of Rothwell Library.
The move follows an agreement reached at the council’s Full Council meeting on 5th August, with the authority officially assuming responsibility for the lease from 1st September 2026.
Rothwell Library has been part of North Northamptonshire Council’s Community Managed Libraries Programme since 2019. Under the scheme, a number of libraries were offered to community groups to run, while remaining part of the wider county library network.
North Northamptonshire Council will continue to provide book stock, public computers and a self-service kiosk. Responsibility for the building and the staffing or volunteers needed to run services will sit with Rothwell Town Council.
Rothwell Town Mayor, Councillor Cedwien Brown, welcomed the agreement and said it would help secure the future of the facility.
She said: “As Mayor, I am proud that Rothwell Town Council is prepared to take on the library lease and begin shaping a true Community Hub for our town.
“Our volunteers, families and residents deserve continuity, stability and ambition, and this transition allows us to deliver exactly that.
“By taking on the lease, we will safeguard what matters most to our community and create new opportunities for wellbeing, learning and meaningful connection within a modern, inclusive Community Hub.”
North Northamptonshire Council’s Executive Member for Communities, Councillor Greg Wilcox, described the development as “great news”.
He said: “Libraries, like the one in Rothwell, are the heart of communities and make a real difference to local people.
“I look forward to seeing the library continue to grow and develop with Rothwell Town Council at the helm and a dedicated team of volunteers.”