VISITORS to Sandiway library have a growing appetite for books of all descriptions, and for Janet Edge’s cakes.

Supervisor Janet and her colleagues won the ‘outstanding customer service’ award in Cheshire West and Chester Council’s (CWAC) annual staff Oscars on April 11 after coffee mornings featuring Janet’s cakes proved extremely popular with library users and saw a five per cent increase in visitors between February and July 2012.

Janet said: “I enjoy baking cakes and I am pleased our customers enjoy them as much as reading the books on offer here at the library. We let people know in advance when I am baking and we usually have an excellent turn out for an event when the cakes are served. They are free but we appreciate a small donation to cover costs.”

Shan Wilkinson, library service manager, said: “It is a lovely library, serving Sandiway, Cuddington and surrounding villages, and is very popular with local groups. Especially when Janet has been baking.”

Clr Stuart Parker, CWAC’s executive member for culture and recreation, said: “We can’t promise cake to all our library customers but Sandiway is typical of the way our libraries play an important role in encouraging people of all ages to discover, or re-discover, the pleasure of reading.

“We have developed the library service using technology to give staff more time to help customers, increasing the variety of material on offer, and creating a welcoming atmosphere to individuals, families, community groups and organisations.”