Wool library volunteers 'raring to go'
Volunteers preparing to take over a Dorset library are "raring to go", according to the chairman of trustees.
David Smith, of the Friends of Wool Library, said the community had supported the group "all the way" as they trained to run the facility.
The friends are due to take over the running of the library on 15 January.
The library is one of eight in Dorset to be saved from closure by community groups after county council cuts.
About 40 people have given up their time to help keep the library open for the village of about 4,000 people.
Volunteer co-ordinator Christine Reber said: "Everybody's pulling in the same direction but all the volunteers give their time and time is a very precious commodity.
"It is not always that easy and it's tremendous the amount of time people have given up to come along to training."
Volunteer Judith Beeby said: "We want to make sure there is a library here in Wool because it's sort of a community centre as much as library - people come here and you meet your friends.
"I was very upset to think it would go and that's one of the reasons I volunteered - you've got to keep it here."
Dorset County Council will continue to provide funding for books and IT services but part of the library has been partitioned to provide office space for the parish council under a rental agreement that will cover the costs of the building.
Mr Smith said customers at the village pub, the Black Bear, recently raised £500 for the library.
He said: "Quite a lot don't use the library but believe the library should stay and they've been with us all the way - 18 months we've worked on getting this together and now we are ready and raring to go."
Volunteers are also taking over libraries at Chickerell, Puddletown, Charmouth, Colehill, Stalbridge, Burton Bradstock and Charmouth.
Portland Underhill Library closed in April after no one came forward to run it.