STOURPORT CIVIC SOCIETY: At last months meeting Jaqueline Plassey, manager of the Stourport, Tenbury and Bewdley libraries, gave an informative talk on the future of our libraries. Funding is now a major issue and so she has to find other ways of producing cash. The loss of the Gallery when the old library in Stourport moved was a big blow as this could be hired out to raise funds. Footfall at libraries is also a cause for concern and her message was "Use it or lose it".IT is very much a service of the future. Providing help to the elderly to cope with an ever increasing use of the internet in our daily lives is seen as a major service. Special sessions for children where they can read books and chatter amongst themselves is also a new initiative. A far cry from the days of strict silence at all times.

Thomas Vale is to leave Stourport and they have kindly donated their archives to the Society. This will mean finding a new sponsor for our Civic Award.

Please note there will not be a meeting in August. The next meeting will be on September 8th when Brian Draper will give a talk entitled "The Severn Way".

Meetings are held at the Elizabeth Mills Centre, New Street, Stourport, starting at 7.30pm, admission £1.50 members £3 non members.