Library’s spooktacular success for Halloween

Crowds enjoyed the Halloween activity at Market Drayton Library

A Halloween themed party at Market Drayton Library attracted more than 1,000 people through the doors to enjoy a host of seasonal activities – the biggest number ever.

The annual Halloween event at the Shropshire Council-run library has gone strength to strength and more and more people are adding it to their social diaries.

Hard-working staff and volunteers organised face-painting, games and crafts and a town trail to encourage people to get out and about and explore.

So far this year, Market Drayton Library has held 231 events that have attracted 2,783 adults and 3,189 children. Some of these are regular weekly events such as the Happy Mondays coffee morning for people to make local connections, or the Wednesday Crafternoons which are run by a volunteer who encourages peoples’ craft ambitions by teaching them new skills.

Rob Gittins, Shropshire Council Cabinet member for culture and digital, said:-

“Market Drayton Library has a growing reputation for the broad range of activities it has on offer and it has been hugely successful in attracting people who are not ‘traditional’ library users through its doors.

“All Shropshire Council’s libraries are excellent community resources, there is so much more on offer to enhance the traditional book lending services. We want people to know that their local library is a place they can go to to seek help and advice and to enjoy themselves by developing new interests and hobbies.”

Shropshire Council library assistant Tori Watson added:-

“We have found there is a much greater demand for local events and so try to keep them as varied as possible and strive to make them educational as well as entertaining.

“We are already planning our next big event, the Christmas party. It’s another annual event that is becoming a highlight of the year for our customers. We will be sharing the details soon.”