Aside from the usual H&S requirements such as manual handling and fire risk assessments, you will need to consider the following. 1) New EL and PL insurance covers will be needed. 2) see if you can register as a charity. You will need to cover operating costs such as insurance, book replacements, maintenance, internet and phone costs somehow and I suspect overdue fines alone won't cover it. 3) Safeguarding issues for children and vulnerable adults. Staff will have contact with service users in these groups, possibly on a one to one basis if the library is not busy. DBS checks are free for volunteers. 4) Will you be sole tenant in the building or will council occupy other bits of it? Take legal advice before signing a full repairing lease that requires you to maintain building electrics and building fabric for instance.

Thanks everyone for the help, I have a few more things to think about now. As always thank you and be safe... Dave

Interesting scenario - and truth is I have no idea. But I'm unsure that a group of volunteers with one person who has list of names/contact numbers is a body that could end up in firing line. There are similar (stress similar) circumstances with a social club. But here there is an entity that owns the building and a committee that administers the dealings of the club. It is common to take out insurance along the lines that the "insured body" is "The committee for the time being... etc" I think I'd ask the Local Authority in the first instance. It may well be that they would remain the duty holder under Occ Liability Act and continue to retain the environmental responsibilities. I would bet that the volunteers have no budget/funds for building upkeep. To expect all these legal duties to pass to a group of willing volunteers seems a step too far. But with devolution of so many previously LA activities it is an area that needs addressing more widely - perhaps some clear guidance from someone..!!. Phil .

Again, Some great points coming across, thanks everyone... Dave

Bob, Agreed there is some "greyness" regarding volunteers but I think what needs to be done is pretty clear. Here (http://www.hse.gov.uk/contact/faqs/charities.htm) the HSE points out that H&S law applies down to level of a single employee. Elsewhere the HSE states that volunteers should be regarded as employees and thus subjected to (be entitled to?) risk assessment, training etc just as a normal employee. So, leaving aside the charity committee type group (without a single employee) most scenarios are covered - the "normal rules" apply. And of course under civil law it is more than likely that a volunteer would fall within scope of the master/servant test and thus be deemed to be an employee. Those insurers that provide Employers' Liability cover recognise this and the policy definition of "employee" is extended to include workers that are hired or borrowed AND volunteers. Phil

DGT, It'll all come down to how the Council foresee their involvement here in the new arrangement. If it's a case of "we can't afford to staff it so will you run it for us", it's not so bad. You shouldn't need your own insurances as Volunteers are/can be treated as employees for the purposes of EL and PL insurances. If it's a case of "we were going to shut it - but if you think you can run it, it's all yours" then I would tread very carefully. Zyggy wasn't joking when he made his point...