Axe set to fall on county library services for rural communities

North Yorkshire County Council has faced a public outcry over its controversial plans to enforce a series of library closures to counter cutbacks totalling £69m across all its services.

It was initially feared that £2.3m would have to cut by 2013-14 from the annual library budget of £7.5m, although the figure has reduced to £1.7m after additional funding was found.

But the decision was taken yesterday by senior members on the council’s executive to ditch the mobile library service, which is seen as a vital link to the county’s most isolated areas.

The council currently operates a fleet of 10 mobile libraries, but the cost of the service has been deemed to be no longer sustainable and will finish at the end of September.

Its demise will bring about the bulk of the £700,000 savings needed to be made during the current financial year.

A “supermobile library” which includes internet connection will continue to operate in the most rural reaches of North Yorkshire, although it will not be able to visit as many locations as the current 10-strong fleet.

However, senior councillors have stressed that they remain committed to preserving North Yorkshire’s network of branch libraries.

But even the most widely-used libraries will endure cutbacks in opening times and staffing levels.

Outlets in key locations such as Catterick, Filey, Harrogate and Knaresborough as well as Malton, Northallerton, Pickering and Richmond will have fewer staff and opening hours reduced, with no Sunday opening.

Initially it was feared as many as 23 of the authority’s 42 libraries could be forced to shut, although the number of sites at risk has now been reduced to eight. Council officials are holding talks with the public in the hope community volunteers will take on the running of the remaining under-threat locations.

The council has had more than 6,000 written responses and 2,000 people have attended public meetings to find out more about becoming involved in running the library services.

North Yorkshire County Council’s executive member for the library and information service, Chris Metcalfe, said: “Our library service, one of the most outstanding in the country, is at a crossroads.

“The necessity of making savings has provided the incentive for us to step back and come up with innovative solutions to maintain a vibrant service into the future.

“We cannot do this on our own. The support of our communities is essential if we are to be successful in this endeavour.

“The challenge is to keep our libraries open in a way that is sustainable so that they can grow and develop to meet future needs.

“One size does not fit all. We will be working with our communities on plans on a library by library basis.”

The recruitment of community volunteers is seen as key to helping prevent at least some of the closures.

A deal which has seen residents take on the running of the library in Hawes is being seen as a model for the future to bring volunteers on board to help.

Other successful volunteer schemes are already running in Grassington in Wharfedale and in an ExtraCare residential home in Bainbridge.

The council has received other offers from local communities to create library outlets in village halls, shops and pubs.

The Yorkshire Post revealed in February that under-threat libraries were being given a reprieve to allow more discussions with the public after a storm of protest.

A report detailing the outcome of the discussions will go before the council’s executive in October.