The library is run primarily by volunteers from the local community, with one manager who is paid. The management committee consists of a few local people plus representatives of V22 (the arts organisation based in Dalston that manage Artists studios in Louise House and a number of other locations across London).

As well as a management group we intend to set up a stakeholders group (Advisory Board) from the local community to help set the strategic direction of the library and hold us to account (as well as being accountable to the council and local councillors and to the ward assembly). I admit we have been a bit slow at setting up the advisory board - our focus has been on getting the library systems working, ensuring all activities that took place in the library continued, that there was heating in the winter, that the library was actually open, our volunteers trained up, and that the finances of the library are secure.

I have reported on behalf of the library at a number of ward assemblies which are open to the public. Simon and Tara (manager of the library and director of V22) both attended the Forest Hill Society AGM (a public meeting) shortly after the library was opened.

Every week in the library members of the public thank the volunteers who are keeping the library running. Users of the library value the work that we are doing and I know that in the coming years we are going to do even better at running a really good community library.

If anybody wants to suggest new activities or improvements that we should be making to the library please do let me know and we will see what we can do.