You may be aware that Castle Donington Community Library is run solely by volunteers and we face the challenges of raising monies to help with the upkeep and purchase of books & equipment etc but also attracting helpers who can give their time and expertise on a regular or occasional basis. We are aware that not everyone has time or the capacity to help with the running of the library but would like to continue to support the service that is provided: this is where FRIENDS of CDCL can make a difference – can you make a regular monthly or annual donation to help the library continue to run events / exhibitions / purchase books etc. In return you will receive a regular newsletter detailing events and activities and invitations to key events such as book signings and the forthcoming opening of the new premises later this year.

How much you give is open to you – please feel free to opt for one of our prescribed packages or make your own gift (you can also Gift Aid if you are a tax payer).

You can pick up a form in the library or print one off below and send it in or drop it off at the library

Friend Membership form

Welcome All

Sue Grafton’s X: Perhaps her darkest and most chilling novel, it features a remorseless serial killer who leaves no trace of his crimes. Once again breaking the rules and establishing new paths, Grafton wastes little time identifying this sociopath. The test is whether Kinsey can prove her case against him before she becomes his next victim.

The alphabet novels feature feisty female private investigator Kinsey Millhone, who lives in the fictional California town of Santa Teresa.

X: The number ten. An unknown quantity. A mistake. A cross. A kiss.
X: The shortest entry in Webster’s Unabridged. Derived from Greek and Latin and commonly found in science, medicine, and religion. The most graphically dramatic letter. Notoriously tricky to pronounce: think xylophone.
X: The twenty-fourth letter in the English alphabet.

Su Grafton started writing her “alphabet” crime series in 1982 with A is for Alibi – she has continued producing these books for the last 35 years finishing with Y is for Yesterday shortly before her death on 28^th December 2017.  We are currently awaiting arrival of the latest book to our shelves but are pleased to promote the X book as our book of the week.  The Y novel is available to order from one of the other county libraries (subject to a £1 charge).  The entire series is also available as e-books FREE of charge through the Borrowbox platform – do ask us how to access this from your device or PC.

Welcome back to an exciting year ahead for the library and the community.

We plan to become part of the Community Hub, based in the old Tudor pub, supported by the Parish council and includes others such as the Volunteer bureau. We have already moved the Farmers Market site to the new Hub and hope this will be positively supported by one and all.

Come along and look at our displays, see the route the cyclists will be taking, find books to read on cycling and other sports.

All children aged 3-12 are invited to take part in this summers read challenge – Animal Antics – come along and find out ‘who done it?’

Launch of the Summer Read this Saturday – 8th July

On the 13th December the Managing Committee of your Castle Donington Community Library agreed unanimously in principle to move the service to the proposed community Hub. This decision was based on an analysis of the long term financial options open to the library remaining at its current location and the anticipated benefits to the library service that become possible from within a building that houses a number of community focussed operations. This decision comes after extensive community consultation on the proposed development of a community Hub over the last few years and acts as an anchor for the planning discussions relating to the public access areas of the Hub that are now taking place. We will, of course, keep you updated with progress on this exciting project as it develops.

Their will be a meeting for people interested in volunteering to help run the new Community Library. It will he held at the Library on Delven Lane on

Wednesday 20th April at 7:00pm.

You will find out about the roles and training courses and be able to book training sessions.

Below is a list of scheduled training sessions planned for the two weeks before we take over running the library. At the moment all we ask is that people note the dates an keep some time free on these dates. A booking system will be published shortly

An introduction to your library
You will learn about:
Your library information manual
Data protection
Safeguarding
The layout of the building
Opening and closing the building
No computer experience necessary

Tuesday 7th June 10-12am & 6:30-8:30pm

The Library Management System
Session A ( for all computer users)
You will learn how to:
Borrow and return a book
Renew a book
Pay fines/ charges
Join new members

Tuesday 14th June 2-4pm & 6:30-8:30pm
Wednesday 15th June 7-9pm

Session B (must have attended LMS A)
You will learn how to:
Deal with incoming deliveries
Look for books for other libraries
Customer copying

Thursday 16th June 10-12 noon
Friday 17th June 10-12 noon

Library Management System Absolute beginners
For those less confident with IT
Tuesday 14th June 10-12 noon

Stock handling
You will learn how to:
Identify different book categories
Shelve fiction and non – fiction books
Shelve children’s books
Promote your stock
Handle donations
No computer experience necessary

Tuesday 7th June 2-4pm
Wednesday 8th June 7-9pm

The digital library service
A look at our digital offer:
How to access our online catalogue
Searching for and reserving titles online
Online reference library
E-Books, E-Audio, E-Magazines
Customer printing
Computer experience beneficial

Thursday 9th June 10-12 noon
Friday 10th June 10-12noon