A library service has been saved from closure by funding from the family of the island’s richest man.

The Family Library and its mobile, home and schools services, as well as its initiatives such as bibliotherapy, provides provision island-wide.

Now Mark Scheinberg’s family has increased its funding from £125,000 to £250,000 - the full cost of running the Family Library activities for one year - to prevent its closure this August.

The family has provided significant financial backing since 2012.

Mr Scheinberg featured in the Sunday Times Rich List this week. The gambling pioneer is said to be worth £3.5bn.

In 2018, a Tynwald select committee recommended government provided funding of £125,000 a year (matched by the family), concluding that withdrawal of government funding would cause a significant issue for the all-island services.

A working party was also set up to investigate all public library provision and its future funding, and to report to Tynwald by December 2019. This review included the Family Library, even though it is no longer within government hands.

However, the working party’s report to Tynwald has been delayed indefinitely, creating a gap in the ability of the Family Library to strategically plan for the next financial year.

Library chiefs say that independent fundraising has become increasingly difficult due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

The chairman of the Family Library, Kurt Roosen, said: ’We would like to sincerely thank the Scheinberg family for coming to the rescue and providing emergency aid to keep us alive.

’This is a gift which will prevent our vital services from closing. Not only will it allow us to operate for a further 12 months but it recognises that across our range of services, what we provide is absolutely fundamental and something not available anywhere else in the island.

’We hope other charities and businesses can find such benefactors, particularly if the government is unable to provide support in a timely fashion.’

The Family Library has already given evidence to the working party tasked with investigating the adequacy, structure and funding of library services in the island. The Tynwald committee described the Family Library as ’a much-valued part of the island’s library provision’.

Mr Roosen added: ’It was heartening that the government working party acknowledged the important role the library plays and we were grateful for the support Tynwald approved two years ago to help us operate while the working group carried out its investigations.

’What is disappointing is that the issue was not addressed when we raised concerns with them in January and February this year, relating to both the delay to the working party’s final report to Tynwald and the financial implications. In hindsight, that was obviously a lost opportunity that then got overtaken by events.

’Since mid-March, Tynwald has naturally been focused on the Covid-19 outbreak and related matters. Yet even before that, with no conclusion drawn by the working party, we have been in limbo somewhat.

’At the end of April, we again alerted politicians to the fact that we were in a critical planning phase and required some evidence of support, at least in the coming year, or we would be forced to give notice on May 1 to our staff and users of our service of our intention to close our doors on July 3. We felt obliged to give this degree of notice as a responsible employer and community service provider.

’At this point, the chair of the working party (Clare Barber MHK) and Treasury confirmed they were not able to assist at this time and accepted that closure might be our only option. All members of Tynwald were made aware of this position.’

Mr Roosen added: ’We have now been fortunate to secure emergency funding from the Scheinberg family which, exceptionally, has decided to contribute the full £250,000 budget for 2020-2021. The family appreciates that these are extreme times to organise funding and that our flavour of wellbeing and outreach services may be more required than ever.’

The island’s local authority libraries can, in principle, open now.

But we understand they had no warning that the Chief Minister would announce the relaxation in that measure on Monday and so were not ready to do so.

The Family Library and its mobile, home and schools services, as well as its initiatives such as bibliotherapy, provides provision island-wide.