Our Wee Library

 Oor Wee Library 

    PCHub was previously a council-managed community education center for many years. After it ceased functioning as a primary school, it hosted various classes for fifty years. When it was set for closure in 2024, the Rotary Club removed their rotating books library, believing that the hub would not be saved. However, we successfully rescued it from closure and retained all the classes that remained. Since then, we have significantly increased the number and variety of groups and classes compared to the days of council ownership and management. We are no longer just surviving; we are now thriving, with more classes and more attendees every day, as our community continues to grow.

    One of the things we've noticed is that when we started a small book stand in the foyer, people who were bringing their kids to events in the main hall—like judo or karate—often took a book to read. We received numerous inquiries and even a request to start a book club to expand this library. It was that little bookshelf in the foyer that inspired us to create Our Wee Library (OWL) in the coffee lounge.

    Initially, we had just a couple of shelves, but we managed to obtain two library-style bookshelves. This allowed us to set up a total of eight large shelving units in the coffee lounge. This room is where Falkirk Writers' Circle meets every Tuesday night and has been doing so for over 40 years. They have their own shelf separate from OWL's books. Additionally, we have a collection of garden books located at the Hingabootiry end o the hub, as well as a DVD library in the small cinema room. Our amazing volunteer, Fiona, has been working extremely hard to categorise all the books.

     Monty also has a children's book section, and he keeps two special teddy bear nighttime stories handy at his bedside. The craft room has a tiny shelf of crafting books for sharing and the blue room has a bundle of art books, so we have space to grow for crafting and hobby books  

    There is an ongoing journey of discovery among those interested in forming a book club and a hub member who wishes to start a Scots language class. He has a couple of shelves in OWL dedicated to Scots books. We have also made contact with someone who knows of a library that is closing due to difficulties in the Community Asset Transfer process. While it is always devastating to hear about another community losing its library, we may benefit from some of their books in the near future as that library faces closure. What started as yet another wee project may soon grow into something muckle.

A full library of books could be a bit overwhelming for us at the moment. We need to curate a selection of books that align with our ethics and promote our culture and heritage while being mindful of inclusivity toward other cultures. Embracing diversity strengthens our community and prepares us for the future.

    This approach applies to everything, from transitioning from monoculture gardens to permaculture, which increases biodiversity and respects Indigenous traditions regarding flora and fauna. We also recognise the importance of art, songs, and literature in celebrating our multicultural identity.