The Family Library is facing the threat of closure after losing government funding.

Nine jobs will go and a multi-award winning community service disbanded if help can’t be found.

The charity requires an annual budget of £250,000 to operate.

A spokesperson said: ’From our oldest outreach client who is 105 years old, to some of our youngest babies, our unique combination of services really do serve the needs of both young and old to be mentally active through books and activities which encourage lifelong learning and ensures that our community is kept fed with expertly curated literary support.’

The charity is undertaking an urgent review to consider its options, up to and including the closure of all existing services which would affect nearly 2,000 subscribers across the island.

It’s making a heartfelt appeal for help to keep going.

’We feel a burden of responsibility in the services that we provide and the people to which we provide them,’ the spokesperson said. ’Hence the review to find a way to service those who need it, even if we are not able to do it any more.’

The family library service was axed by the government 10 years ago in response to the VAT income loss.

Since then, it has been run as an independent charity with a sole benefactor providing half its money.

The gap was plugged by government funding, with the findings of a select committee review due in late 2019. These findings have been ’indefinitely delayed’ and the funding provision expired.

Clare Barber MHK, who chaired the select committee, said she was disappointed the report had not yet been published, adding: ’I recognise the importance and value of libraries and the need for libraries to expand services and share resources.

’The value of libraries to communities is clear from the many submissions to the committee in our first report, but as with all services it is right that we ensure they are not being unnecessarily replicated and that there is value for money for all taxpayers and ratepayers.’

The Family Library spokesperson said: ’We have always seen the services as vital, which is why they were not allowed to fail back in 2011 and we formed the charity to support it.

’When running at full pace, we issue over 55,000 books and resources such as audio books and DVDs a year, many to the more vulnerable in society, through our outreach services.’

Family Library services can be a lifeline for isolated and vulnerable island residents.

The spokesperson said: ’Our priority has always been our clients. All of our staff worked through the lockdowns, supporting our communities with activities online and even calling up our housebound clients on the day they would normally have had a delivery so we maintained continuity, which can be so important to people in these situations.

’We also pushed out nearly two months’ worth of books in a week just before the first lockdown to ensure that people had a stock to keep them going.’

The library, on Westmoreland Road in Douglas, can trace its roots over 100 years to the Rural Library.