The Friends of Portswood Library are celebrating the group’s fifth birthday on Saturday, August 10, and invite you along for cold drinks, a look back at achievements, and cake to be cut by the mayor.

The group originally formed when libraries were particularly under threat as local authorities tried to balance their books, and many were being closed up and down the country.

From winning funding to install a simple noticeboard outside the library to spread the word and encourage more people to use the facility, to hosting coffee mornings raising cash for charities like Macmillan, the Friends group has proved a positive force in Portswood – and beyond: its successful ‘Books for Kenya’ appeal in 2017 saw books donated and shipped to a children’s orphanage.

Meanwhile a Friends-organised writing competition marked the library’s centenary, with prizes awarded by Chris Packham, right, who was often to be seen in the library as a boy.

And latterly, regular talks organised by The Friends of Portswood Library, often in collaboration with city tour guides See Southampton and focusing on local history, have reportedly become so popular that finding a seat has often become a problem!

“We couldn’t have done it without you and we want to say thank you!” says publicity for the birthday celebration, which runs from 10.30am – 12 noon on Saturday, August 10 at Portswood Library.