THERE were celebrations at Hagley Library on Saturday to mark a new era for the formerly closure threatened facility

Hagley Parish Council has teamed up with Worcestershire County Council to save the village library in Worcester Road to mark the beginning of a new collaboration that aims to keep open the facility which was in danger of being axed as part of a county council cuts programme.

The launch of the new parish and county council partnership was celebrated at a fun event, featuring a children's storytelling session and cake cutting, at the library on Saturday November 15.

Councillor Steve Colella, parish council chairman, said: "We want the service to continue and go from strength to strength.

"A library, especially in Hagley, is an integral part of the community. It's amazing that in these modern times the demand for printed material is still immense.

"People can drop in and read the daily paper, magazines, use the library's IT services and order books from the county's vast stock of books."

Under the new arrangement - Worcestershire County Council will continue to provide library services supported by volunteers, while the parish council will be responsible for the building.

The ultimate aim, however, is for the library to be incorporated in a brand village new hub which the parish council wants to create and which would function as a community centre, parish council offices and police base.