This is particularly pertinent in North Yorkshire where local people are effectively running 31 branches after the county’s libraries budget was cut from £7.8m to £4.2m in this financial year.

Our libraries should be treated as a national asset – Yorkshire Post Letters

And while this concept does have its critics, notably in Sheffield, the desire of so many residents to give something back to their community is actually stopping councils from introducing even harsher cuts.

Many libraries in Yorkshire are now run by volunteers.

YP Letters: Funds needed to improve our libraries

That said, librarians are not just responsible books – they are, invariably, experts when it comes to offering assistance on how to access local services and so on – and it is important that local and national leaders understand their wider value. In short, it is now time to recognise libraries as an asset, rather than a drain on resources, and put a moratorium on any closure plans so other options can be considered.

True value of library volunteers is essential reading – The Yorkshire Post says