Alberto visited Fleckney Community Library on Thursday 28 August to celebrate its role as a thriving hub for literacy, digital inclusion, and community life.
Run entirely by trustees of The Friends of Fleckney Library Charity and a team of dedicated volunteers, the library is now funded through donations, grants, charity membership fees and fundraising. Mr Costa’s visit shone a spotlight on the library’s successes, from inspiring children through story time for families and early years children, the annual Summer Reading Challenge and visits from the local primary school to helping residents get online with its well-equipped IT suite.
Linda Marshall, Chairman of The Friends of Fleckney Library, welcomed Mr Costa’s and said: “Reading for pleasure changes lives and a library is a vital asset, providing a warm, friendly welcome and a safe place for the local community to enjoy. We are proud to share how our volunteers are making that happen here in Fleckney and delighted to be able to show Alberto Costa MP the difference we’re making every day.”
Alberto said: “Fleckney Community Library is a shining example of what can be achieved when local people come together to support and improve their community. From providing a welcoming place for local residents to enjoy and meet with other people, encouraging children to read and write, to providing vital digital access for residents, the volunteers here are making a real difference. I was delighted to visit and to support their efforts to keep this wonderful service thriving for years to come.”
With its 10-year lease with Leicestershire County Council set to renew in 2026, these are exciting times for the charity trustees to secure the future of the library. As a supporter of fairer funding for Leicestershire, Mr Costa is expected to discuss how community-led services like Fleckney’s can be sustained.
Part of the national Community Libraries Network, Fleckney Community Library is helping to redefine libraries as vibrant, people-powered spaces that connect, inspire, and serve their communities.
