Breadcrumb
Friends Groups of our libraries
Friends Groups of our libraries
What Friends Groups do, your local Friends Groups and how to set up a new group
What Friends Groups do
Friends Groups are independent groups who work with Bristol Libraries to help create a library service that works for the whole community.
They:
- host coffee mornings as a social activity and to fundraise
- raise money for extra library equipment or activities such as writing workshops
- promote their local library on social media
- arrange talks with authors
- support The Bristol Library Strategy 2020 to 2024 (opens new window)
They also host:
- Board Game evenings
- Theatre performances
- Film screenings
- Introductions to Ancestry sessions
- Lego events
- “public living rooms”
- Meetings to build links with local community groups and organisations
- Reading groups
- And more
Friends Groups in your library
Bedminster Library
Bishopston Library
- Friends of Bishopston Library Facebook group
- Friends of Bishopston Library website
- Email: friends@bishopstonlibrary.org.uk
Clifton Library
Filwood Library
Phone: 0117 966 8761
Hartcliffe Library
Hillfields
Email: TBC
Henleaze Library
Horfield Library
Knowle Library
Redland Library
- Friends of Redland Library Facebook group
- Friends of Redland Library website
- Email: friendsofredlandlibrary@gmail.com
Sea Mills Library
- Friends of Sea Mills Library Facebook group
- Friends of Sea Mills Library website
- Email: contactus@friendsofseamillslibrary.co.uk
Shirehampton Library
- Email: friendsofshire@gmail.com
- Friends of Shirehampton Library Facebook group
- Friends of Shirehampton Library Twitter feed
Stockwood Library
Westbury Library
Whitchurch Library
Wick Road Library
Libraries without Friends Groups
The following libraries don’t have a Friends Group:
- Avonmouth
- Bishopsworth
- Central
- Fishponds
- Henbury: in progress
- Junction 3: in progress
- Lockleaze: in progress
- Marksbury Road Library
- Southmead: in progress
- St George
- St Pauls
We're really keen to a have a Friends Group for each library as a way of working together with the community.
Set up a Friends Group
If you’re interested in setting up a Friends Group in your local library let us know.
Email library.ideas@bristol.gov.uk with:
- your name
- the name of your local library
Once we have your details, we’ll help you arrange a meeting with a member of staff at your local library, so you can talk about your Friends Group.
It can be useful to set up a Facebook page or website.
Resources for Friends Groups
Use the guides below to help you with different tasks.
- Friends of Bristol Libraries Guidance Framework (pdf, 206KB) (opens new window)
- Friends Group constitution template (word doc, 460KB) (opens new window)
- Key information for friends groups (pdf, 226KB) (opens new window)
- Social media guidelines (pdf, 100KB) (opens new window) (pdf, 100KB) (opens new window)
- Film screening and licensing (pdf, 201KB) (opens new window)
- Social media tips for friends (pdf, 244KB) (opens new window)
- The Bristol Library Strategy 2020 to 2024 (opens new window)
Roles in the group
- Role of the chairperson (pdf, 111KB) (opens new window)
- Role of the treasurer (pdf, 96KB) (opens new window)
- Role of the secretary (pdf, 117KB) (opens new window)
Finance
Events
- Event plan (word doc, 70KB) (opens new window)
- Risk assessment template (word doc, 16KB) (opens new window) (see an example of a risk assessment (pdf, 25KB) (opens new window) )
- Risk assessment template for events involving children (word doc, 33KB) (opens new window) (see an example of a risk assessment for an event involving children (pdf, 61KB) (opens new window) )
- DBS guidelines for Library Friends Groups 2021 (pdf, 313KB) (opens new window)
Public liability insurance
We can help you pay for the first two years of Public Liability Insurance. We'll pay:
- the whole cost for the first year
- half the cost for the second year
Ask your local library contact or email library.ideas@bristol.gov.uk for details. You'll need to set up a bank account first.
Arrange a Friends Group meeting
Once your Friends Group is set up you can arrange the Friends Group meeting. We can help you with this.
It’s useful to think about:
- what you want to talk about at the meeting
- who might be able to help you in the community
- the date and time of your first meeting
- how you’ll advertise the meeting: on social media or a poster in the library