Latest news about Plymouth Proprietary Library.

1. 111 NORTH HILL Founded 1810
NEWSLETTER
PLYMOUTH PL4 8JY
Telephone:
(01752) 660515
Winter/Spring 2013
www.plymouthproprietarylibrary.org.uk
Greetings and best wishes for the new year to all our Proprietary Library members. We continued in 2012
with the reduced opening hours, although we know it caused inconvenience to some of you. The Library is a
registered charity, and the Committee feels that with all the cutbacks the local authority libraries are facing,
the independent libraries like this one, still have something worthwhile to offer.
The annual subscription paid by members does not cover the cost of running the Library. We let the top
two floors to residential tenants and the basement is let as a solicitors' store. These lettings bring in extra
essential income but this is in jeopardy because of chronic building maintenance problems and the
Committee has drawn on the capital reserves to maintain the flat in good repair. Unfortunately we have
now discovered that there is a serious problem with damp at the top and front of our Victorian building.
This has meant that the tenants have had to vacate the flat – resulting in an immediate and substantial loss
of income as you can see from the attached pie chart this means we have now lost 51 per cent of our
income. This may mean that the Library will be unable to meet its financial commitments from June 2014.
The annual income from the Library's investments is also used to maintain the Library services, and in
common with other charities this has been reduced dramatically. This investment income means that
subscriptions will probably have to be increased.
The Trustees have therefore been discussing what future course the Library should take. They have
instructed property consultants to value the building with a view to sale and also to look for a suitable
property on their behalf. Other properties have also been viewed to see what is available for purchase. If
any Member has any information about properties that may be suitable, please do not hesitate to contact a
Committee member.
LIBRARY INCOME BY CATEGORY What does the future hold?
AT 31st DECEMBER 2012
The two main suggestions considered in
detail are:
1. The Library should sell 1 Alton
Terrace and look for different
more modern premises, with good
parking, by main bus routes, and
ideally within walking distance of
the University. A more modern
building would be less expensive
to maintain.
2. The Library should consider
amalgamating with another
Charity of similar aims and
interests.
Staying in the present building is not an
option. However the Committee does
need to hear your thoughts and ideas on
these proposals, and would be very
interested to hear of any other ideas you
might have for the future of the library. It
may be necessary to call a special
URGENT REQUEST FOR COMMITTEE MEMBERS general meeting to discuss the situation
There are at present five vacancies for Committee Members. There is also and any firm proposals.
a vacancy for President. The Library needs help from somebody with a
good experience of property matters to assist in a possible move. If you Please let us have your views, our
feel you can help secure the future of the Library please contact a e-mail address is:
Committee member. contact@plymouthproprietarylibrary.org.uk1

2. Future events From the acting Chair of the Trustees WRITERS’ GROUP SUCCESSES
We have had a series of On the first page of this Newsletter you can The Plymouth Proprietary Library Writers
lunchtime talks each read about the dire financial situation the Group continues to flourish with high
month in 2012, some on Plymouth Proprietary Library finds itself in. attendance. We seem to have set
literary subjects, some The Library has been through perilous times something of a trend around the south west
on more general themes, before – the destruction of the Foulston institutions with Writers Groups starting up
and the Committee are Library in the old Cornwall Street in the City at The Athenaeum and The Devon &
very appreciative of all Centre during the War was about the most Exeter Institution. Glad to know we are
the speakers. However serious, but that was outside the control of the trend setters and pioneers of new ideas!
some have been well Trustees, now we have the opportunity to Last October we were again invited by The
supported, some with manage our restructuring: it could be seen as National Trust to write some Ghost Stories
very few people turning the start of a new era, a chance to safeguard for their Haunted House season. This was
up. As you know a light the future of the Library, but still retain the a sell out for Cotehele House and also
buffet lunch has been ideals set out by the founders in 1810. encouraging for our newer members to take
provided in the History Hopefully new more modern premises will be part in a rare opportunity for some behind-
Room afterwards. found and we can adapt them to our the-scenes activity and research into one of
The first talk in 2013 requirements and not have to work around the oldest occupied manor houses in
was given by Mrs. Diana unsuitable conditions. Cornwall. We had the added bonus this
Lawer about the Cornish It will be a wrench to leave 111 North Hill (or time of using impressive sound effects and
Pasty, with illustrations 1 Alton Terrace), which is regarded as a Elaine Rawle, one of the PPL members,
from her collection of prestigious address close to the University, kindly helped in providing some
vintage postcards. The but if we can manage change, we can make it professional theatrical costumes which
talk was very lively and work for us and give the Library a long-term were brought in from Taunton for the
entertaining, but future. It has survived 203 years in turbulent occasion. Thank you also to Louis Fletcher
included cooking times, the next year or so does not seem too for his timely organization and links with
instructions and many long in the scheme of things. the Cotehele House manager.
interesting historical Kevin Warley Several PPL Writers Group members have
facts. We should be glad seen some successes at various levels of
to have your comments Thanks . . . creative writing recently. Matt Ewens has
on these talks too - We are grateful for the generous financial just had a book published entitled
would you prefer support from Library Member Miss ‘Devonshire with a Hint of Albanian’ – a
evening talks~ Should Jeanette Hipsey for the renovation work colourful story for a predominantly
they always have a being done in the basement, and we would children’s reading group but skilfully
literary theme. like to thank Ray Glasson for his hard written with some impressive illustrations
We are anxious to work in clearing out the basement prior to and enjoyed by members of the PPL
increase the the work. Writers Group. The book is available on
membership, and the Thanks also to those who manned the stall Amazon for anyone who is interested to
Committee will be at the Plymouth International Book know more. Well done also to Veronica
pleased to receive any Festival, especially Simon Curtis and again Bright who has seen numerous successes
helpful comments and with short story writing this year which
Ray Glasson.
suggestions about the includes First Prize in a National
Volunteers have attended Heritage Lottery Association of Writers Groups competition
running of the Library
Fund financed conservation courses at the and also a Bursary to continue with more
and its additional Plymouth and West Devon and Exeter good work.
activities.
Record Offices, together with a Ruth Muttlebury was mentioned in
The Monthly Reading bookbinding course held in the Library.
Group continues on the dispatches by Professor Edith Hall for an
first Monday of the ‘adroit’ and unique translation of a
LUNCHTIME TALKS DIARY DATES
Month at 2 pm, and new Theocritus poem from the original Greek
Friday 8th March: Mrs. Jayne Vicarage for the Stephen Spender Prize 2012 and
members would be talking about the novelist Angela Thirkell.
welcome. (More details will shortly have another poem published
Mrs. Vicarage is Treasurer of the English called ‘Sunrise Over Laira Mill’. James
from Sandra or Peter branch of the Angela Thirkell Society.
Greenhalgh) . Bridgwater is also pleased to have secured
Thursday 18th April.: A welcome return by employment with a Creative Writing
Simon Curtis talking about the poet Philip Department within The Theatre Royal
Larkin. Simon has given us popular talks Plymouth. Alan Grant deserves
before on other English and American poets. congratulations also for winning a short
Both talks start at 12 noon and cost £4 to story competition in The Herald
include buffet lunch. newspaper. It’s good to see PPL Writers
If you have any contacts who would give a raising the standard of local journalism!
talk for little or no charge, please contact We would also like to thank Birute Brown
Camilla Blackman at the Library. for entertaining us so brilliantly at the last
Do we have your e-mail address? Writers Group meeting with a wonderful
“Those, Honey? Those are books. If you do, please let us add it to our story called ‘Summoned by a Spell’. Many
That’s what they make contact list so that we can save on of us have been giggling under the spell of
movies from.” postage costs when we contact you such a brilliant piece of work ever since.
© The Trustees of Plymouth Proprietary Library. 2013. Registered Charity number 1015700.
Printed in the EU.
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