Latest News

April 16, 2021 - IT’S HERE! THE ALL NEW West Wight Calendar 2022! THE ALL NEW West Wight Calendar 202 ... +++ August 16, 2020 - Freshwater Library (serving the West Wight) to reopen on August 18th! Freshwater Library opening times 10 ... +++ July 17, 2020 - Film Nights to return in a NEW location! Friday 7th August 2020  SOCIALLY D ... +++ May 22, 2020 - Library reopens! Please see details for the BOOK COLLECTION service. +++ April 4, 2020 - West Wight Calendar 2021 for sale online Despite the library being currently ... +++ April 4, 2020 - LIBRARY CLOSED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE Freshwater Library is now closed du ... +++ March 13, 2020 - NEW! FOFL’s 2021 WEST WIGHT calendar launched for sale! It’s here! FOFL’s fabul ... +++ March 10, 2020 - FOFL urgent notice about the cancellation of forthcoming events. After the film JUDY (March 11th), F ... +++ December 5, 2019 - AGM on Monday 6th January …. FOFL’s AGM will be held on Mo ... +++ November 7, 2019 - YESTERDAY – great Beatles music over two nights at Freshwater Library! YESTERDAY – a brilliant film ... +++ November 7, 2019 - MAIDEN, Tracey Edwards documentary, comes to Freshwater Library! Tracey Edwards documentary comes to ... +++ October 5, 2019 - Mahjong Club Mahjong Club Come try the Chinese t ... +++ October 5, 2019 - Colouring Club Colouring Club Unleash your creativ ... +++ September 9, 2019 - Dr Ruth Waller, Archaeologist, returns to Freshwater Library: Talk – “Iron Age to Medieval Freshwater” Dr Ruth Waller The Archaeology of F ... +++ August 13, 2019 - Friends of Freshwater Library support the NEW Freshwater Book Fair! FOFL are supporting the NEW Freshwa ... +++ August 10, 2019 - Write Club WRITE CLUB Next meetings: Tuesday 1 ... +++ July 11, 2019 - Queen’s Award Presentation photos Friends of Freshwater Library’ ... +++ July 9, 2019 - Summer Reading Challenge 2019 – starts 13th July. Summer Reading Challenge Freshwater ... +++ July 2, 2019 - Two FREE children’s August events The author Jules Marriner will be v ... +++ June 2, 2019 - FOFL awarded the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service. A huge honour in recognition of our volunteers, members, supporters and committee FOFL are delighted to be recipients ... +++ May 23, 2019 - Cookery Book Group Cookery Book Group 7pm Meets once a ... +++ April 5, 2019 - Two great films for April & May. BlacKkKlansman on Weds 24th April & The Favourite, Weds 22nd May. +++ March 20, 2019 - JC comes to Freshwater Library again! JC Grimshaw and his TZIGANE Band ar ... +++ February 22, 2019 - Two great films for March 2019 A Street Cat Named Bob on March 6th ... +++ August 28, 2018 - 2019 SPECIAL EVENT Our first event for 2019 (January 1 ... +++ August 18, 2018 - Oct 17th Archaeology of Freshwater and Totland talk: Dr Ruth Waller will be giving a tal ... +++ August 18, 2018 - The Mercy – film, Weds 5th Sept.   The Mercy is a new film star ... +++ February 21, 2018 - FOFL launches NEW 2019 Calendar! 2019 Calendar The Friends of Freshw ... +++ February 1, 2018 - OUR TOILET IS TWINNED IN THE REPUBLIC OF CONGO! One of our members, Jane Wilde, has ... +++ February 1, 2018 - REPEAT SHOWING OF A PLASTIC OCEAN. FEB 28th. BOOK ONLINE HERE. +++ December 15, 2017 - A PLASTIC OCEAN A Plastic Ocean : a feature length ... +++ August 14, 2017 - NEW 2017 EVENTS LIST PUBLISHED NEW events list published, please s ... +++ July 17, 2017 - NEW! Family FILM NIGHT on Aug 23rd +++ July 17, 2017 - FREE summer holiday event for children!! Freshwater library has a  FREE sum ... +++ May 22, 2017 - Frank Spencer creator Ray Allen to visit library Some Mothers Do ‘Ave ‘E ... +++ April 13, 2017 - LIBRARY CLOSED 8th-20th MAY The refurbishment work in the libra ... +++ March 28, 2017 - NEW 2018 CALENDAR ON SALE FOFL’S new 2018 calendar has ... +++ November 14, 2016 - Weds 7th December 2016 FOFL CHRISTMAS PARTY @ 7pm with The Elderberries and Ryde Ukulele Band Come along and join the fun, all FO ... +++ November 14, 2016 - Fri Nov 18th 2016 @ 7pm Film Special – This Changes Everything FILM NIGHT SPECIAL The documentarty ... +++ November 14, 2016 - Mon Nov 14th 2016 @ 7pm FOFL AGM + City Recordings Monday 14th November FOFL’s A ... +++ October 9, 2016 - Latest volunteering news! Latest Volunteering News 10th Octob ... +++ October 9, 2016 - PAUL ARMFIELD at Freshwater Library – a SELL OUT! The Paul Armfield concert at Freshw ... +++ June 29, 2016 - Arts and Crafts event. Saturday the 20th August 2016. The ... +++ June 2, 2016 - Chain Ferry Gang The Chain Ferry Gang Huge thanks to ... +++ May 11, 2016 - COMING SOON! Family Wildlife Day FREE for families, a wildlife event ... +++ May 11, 2016 - NEW LOCAL CINEMA IN LIBRARY Films at the library – FOFL a ... +++ April 15, 2016 - Freshwater Parish acquires Freshwater Library building. Great news! Freshwater Parish Counc ... +++ April 15, 2016 - IT NEWS LATEST IT UPDATE FRIDAY 15th APRIL ... +++ January 7, 2016 - Adult Colouring Group Adult Colouring Group Starts 20th J ... +++ December 20, 2015 - Latest Volunteer news. Volunteers – Latest news  ... +++ October 14, 2015 - University of the Third Age University of the Third Age From 29 ... +++ October 8, 2015 - Junior Lego & Scrabble Club Combined Junior Lego & Scrabble ... +++ September 17, 2015 - 19th Century Literature Reading Group 19th Century Literature Reading Gro ... +++ September 3, 2015 - Freshwater Library Tea-Towel Available from September 18th 2015 ... +++ September 3, 2015 - Terms and Conditions Terms and Conditions Postage and Re ... +++ September 3, 2015 - Cart Your Cart +++ September 3, 2015 - Shop Freshwater Library Online Shop Orde ... +++ September 3, 2015 - Checkout Checkout +++ September 3, 2015 - My Account My Account +++ August 30, 2015 - Spectrum IT Grant We are so grateful to Spectrum Hous ... +++ August 25, 2015 - Freshwater Live at the Library Freshwater Live at the Library 22 ... +++ August 24, 2015 - Arts and Crafts Day 12th August 2015 Arts and Crafts Da ... +++ July 8, 2015 - Zoe Sadler – Art Workshop On the same day as the Arts and Cra ... +++ July 5, 2015 - Public Consultation Live links The Public Consultation for Freshwa ... +++ July 1, 2015 - Public Consultation 1st July 2015. The Freshwater Libra ... +++ July 1, 2015 - Lois Cooper’s retirement party Tuesday 30th June. Lois Cooper has ... +++ May 28, 2015 - Lois’s retirement 30th June 2015 Lois Cooper is retiring on Tuesday ... +++ May 28, 2015 - Huxley Workshop 27th May 2015 Thanks to Huxley for providing yet ... +++ May 17, 2015 - The Signalman 16th May 2015 A huge thanks to Geoff Kirk and Kev ... +++ May 3, 2015 - Scrabble Group Scrabble Group Tuesday, 2pm Join ot ... +++ May 3, 2015 - Listening Group Listening Group Last Tuesday of the ... +++ May 3, 2015 - Rhyme Time Rhyme Time Friday, 10.30 -11am Brin ... +++ May 3, 2015 - Book Chat Book Chat Third Wednesday of the mo ... +++ May 3, 2015 - Millennium Book Group Millennium Book Group Meeting every ... +++ May 3, 2015 - Knit and Natter Knit and Natter First & third T ... +++ May 3, 2015 - Maths Group Maths Group Thursday Mornings (term ... +++ May 3, 2015 - Thankyou Thank You Thank you for your member ... +++ May 3, 2015 - Some Serious News FOFL was formed three years ago wit ... +++ May 3, 2015 - New Website Launched April 2015 Thank you for visiting our new webs ... +++ May 3, 2015 - Privacy and Cookie Policy Privacy and Cookie Policy FOFL is c ... +++ May 3, 2015 - Contact Contact Us Friends Committee Friend ... +++ May 3, 2015 - Links Links FOFL Facebook Group FOFL Twit ... +++ May 3, 2015 - Gallery Picture Gallery Click Thumbnails Fo ... +++ May 3, 2015 - Fundraising Fundraising FOFL organise local fun ... +++ May 3, 2015 - Volunteers Volunteers We already have a good s ... +++ May 3, 2015 - Activities IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT ACTIVITIES A ... +++ May 3, 2015 - Events Content here. Content here. FOFL Ev ... +++ May 3, 2015 - History Freshwater Library, A Brief History ... +++ May 3, 2015 - Mission Statement Mission Statement ‘The preser ... +++ May 3, 2015 - Aims Aims The Friends of Freshwater Libr ... +++ May 3, 2015 - The Committee The FOFL Committee Please come and ... +++ May 3, 2015 - Membership Membership You can become a member ... +++ May 3, 2015 - About About Us Freshwater Library was bui ... +++ May 2, 2015 - News +++ May 2, 2015 - Home Welcome to the Friends of Freshwate ... +++ webdesign

Welcome to the Friends of Freshwater Library (FOFL)

The Friends of Freshwater Library are an independent voluntary group who support and aim to preserve our beautiful library and community asset in Freshwater; the only Isle of Wight Council library service in the West Wight.

FOFL were founded initially in 2012 as a campaigning body to save the library in response to a threat of closure.  In June 2019 FOFL were honoured to receive the prestigious Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service, the highest award a voluntary group can receive in the UK. 

Freshwater Library IOW

We directly support our fabulous local library by running monthly events, running a local community cinema in the library on a big screen, selling retail items such as local calendars and tea towels, arranging talks and varied programme of events and most importantly by procuring and organising a team of volunteers who help run the library by committing to a weekly half day session. This is vital, as the library service now only employs one person and it depends on voluntary help from the community to survive. We passionately care about the future of the library in the heart of the village and the community. The ownership and maintenance of the library has recently passed from the Isle of Wight Council to Freshwater Parish Council.

The library was built in 1939 and since then has made effective and lasting difference to the local community by being a safe and warm place to meet other people, seek advice, borrow books, magazines, films etc. FOFL aim to build on this strength by ensuring that it thrives to serve the community around it.

Seven years ago the Friends of Freshwater Library, (FOFL), were formed to save this library from closure and to revitalise it by increasing its offering to the local community.  Many more services and resources are now being offered within the library to change for the better the lives of the local community.  FOFL have over 200 local, paid up members supporting their efforts.  There is a committee of 6 people with a range of talent and expertise.

You are very welcome to come to our diverse range of events whether you are a member or not. There is something for everyone – whether talks, cinema or music.

Please check out our forthcoming entertainments on the Events Page.

Make A Difference

We are determined to keep Freshwater Library alive and thriving in the centre of our community.

We aim to increase its use by people of all ages.

This wonderful New England style building has been a library and valuable community asset in our village for over 75 years. We must support it, improve it and keep it central to Freshwater and West Wight life – for everyone.

We value your time, support and help in this important task. If you’d like to make a donation, click on this link.  Please Help.

FOFL Membership

You can become a member of FOFL by joining the group for just £3 per annum. Membership ensures that you get regular updates of events and a reduction on some ticket prices.

To join FOFL please Click Here.

Back to Top