BARRY Library users have begun celebrating its tenth anniversary with its top ten borrowers.

The King Square premises, which opened on January 4, 2007, has issued more than one million books to its 29,000 members with 18,000 of these borrowed by ten people.

Some of Barry Library’s best customers joined staff for coffee and cake to celebrate.

Top of the list was Dorothy Yussuf, who has borrowed 2,471 books since the library opened.

After cutting the cake to start the celebration Dorothy said: “The library is a lovely place to come to. I always thought you had to be as quiet as a mouse in libraries but here it is really social, I’ve met so many people.

“The staff are great, they can’t do enough to help me. They go and find all of the books I ask for and bring them to me.

“The only problem is I’m running out of books. They now have to order them in for me from other libraries.”

The birthday party was held to mark the start of a year of celebration for the library and adjacent town hall.

Principal librarian, Chris Edwards, said: “We thought there would be no better way to mark our tenth birthday than with our very best customers.

“One of the things that makes libraries so special is that they give people the chance to follow their interests, learn something new, share their interests, or just get lost in a great book.

“That’s what we’ve been offering people here for the last ten years, and what we will continue to do for many many more.”

Two days of celebration open to all library members and the public will take place on Friday, January 13 and Saturday, January 14.

There will be a display of photographs of old Barry and the all are invited to share their stories of growing up and living in Barry.

Other activities include a photographic challenge; sign-up sessions for adults to a new colouring club;a reading group and a crochet club; storytellers; craft events; a family history surgery, and a performance from Barry Male Voice Choir.