The residents of Bristol, England, took over their local library in 2016 after the Bristol City Council announced plans to close several libraries due to budget cuts. The residents formed a community group called the Friends of Redland Library and secured funding from grants and donations to keep the library open.

The Friends of Redland Library group was able to negotiate a lease with the Bristol City Council to take over the management of the library building and its contents. The community group now manages the library's services, including staffing, book acquisitions, and community programming.

The success of the Friends of Redland Library group in taking over their local library has demonstrated the ability of communities to provide essential services without the involvement of local government. It has also inspired other communities in the United Kingdom to take similar action in response to library closures and other public service cuts.