Haddenham’s community run Library will be celebrating World Book Day with a sponsored 12-hour read-aloud-athon next month to help raise funds.

Moira Goddard, library co-ordinator and chairman of the Library Friends, said: “It’s over 14 years since the county decided to close 10 libraries for good, Haddenham library being one of them.

“We have risen out of the ashes and become a well respected community library run by volunteers. There is nothing like face to face transactions in a library, especially in a sociable village like ours.”

Library volunteer Andrea Chambers added: “Haddenham library is a community endeavour so we wanted to have a way of raising money for the library by doing something everyone could join in with - and when better to do that than on World Book Day”.

The day, on March. will also include: Readings from several local authors – including award winning children’s author Mark Lowery (provisionally booked to read at 4.30pm); a ‘Where’s Wally’ hunt around the village; refreshments; tombola and of course the library will be open throughout, from 8am until 8pm, for usual library services.

Moira said: “We hope people will call in on their way to or from work and school, or just drop in during the day to read aloud from their favourite book – school reading books, verse, fiction or non-fiction – for as long as they like.

“Everyone is welcome to come along on the March 2 and anyone who wants to sponsor us, join in to read aloud or help on the day can pop into the library, telephone us on 01353 740624 or contact us on our Facebook page.”

Alternatively anyone wishing to make an electronic donation can do so via Paypal.