THE launch of West Devon's first 'micro-library' at Exbourne Village Hall has proven the hall's importance to the village. The village hall's new committee, which was formed last April, has been hard at work over the last year to raise funds for the hall and ensure it remains as much at the heart of the village as it ever has been. The latest project for the hall was the launch of its micro library on Wednesday, April 16. The micro library has been set up in the wake of cuts to the library bus service by Devon County Council. Working in conjunction with Devon Library Services, the micro library allows villagers to borrow books by visiting the hall on a fortnightly basis —though if someone decides they want to borrow a new book early, library organisers will help them to do so. After the formation of the hall committee last year, a survey was sent out to villagers to find out what they wanted from the hall. Responses have helped to guide a major project for the hall, which has already seen the refurbishment of the toilets and the redecoration of the kitchen. The next steps of the refurbishment project are to replace the kitchen windows, replace roof rendering and eventually to replace the kitchen roof. Sheila White, secretary and treasurer for the hall committee, was pleased with the survey response and the response from community organisations to continue to engage with the hall. 'We wanted to find out what people wanted from the hall or if they even wanted a village hall at all.,' she said. 'We feel that the more people use it, the more people will be inclined to support the hall with events and funding. 'The hall now hosts a gardening club, yoga, Tai Chi and Qigong. The church uses it regularly and zumba and table tennis clubs are in the process of being set up. The library is already proving popular, and though the service is once a fortnight, we will be happy to help people borrow books sooner than the fortnightly sessions if they wish. 'Over the last few years, the hall had kept ticking along, but there was no money to really do anything major. In the last few months there have been a number of fundraising events, like the curry and quiz night, auction of promises and beer festival at the Red Lion, which has raised around £1,500 for the hall.' Future fundraising events planned include a village open gardens event in June and a church choir concert in July. Anyone interested in getting involved in the hall can attend the hall's annual general meeting on May 14. For more details on the AGM and the hall, call Sheila White on 01837 851306.