Yorkshire library volunteers must be treasured – The Yorkshire Post says

THERE are a number of critics who continue to belittle the contribution that volunteers make to community libraries across the county.
By YP Comment
Published 17th Apr 2020, 11:40 BST
Margaret Baynes, a volunteer at the Goathland Community Library, doing her knitting between customers.Margaret Baynes, a volunteer at the Goathland Community Library, doing her knitting between customers.
Margaret Baynes, a volunteer at the Goathland Community Library, doing her knitting between customers.
Read More
True value of library volunteers is essential reading – The Yorkshire Post says

They’re wrong. And they should stop. Without such public spiritedness, the presence of libraries in North Yorkshire – and cities like Sheffield – would be even more diminished.

It is simply not feasible for local councils to pay for full-time professional librarians at every remaining branch in the county, the desire of some.

Catherine Jenkinson is a volunteer at Goathland Community Library in North Yorkshire.Catherine Jenkinson is a volunteer at Goathland Community Library in North Yorkshire.
Catherine Jenkinson is a volunteer at Goathland Community Library in North Yorkshire.
Hide Ad
Hide Ad

But it might be possible – in time – to persuade political leaders to invest in the service if use of branches to borrow books, access public information, utilise computers or host events increases.

And that means supporting those volunteers, backed up by paid library staff, who are giving time back to their local community, and also maintaining such high standards of services, in circumstances which are far from ideal.

Without them, this county would be all the poorer.

Editor’s note: first and foremost - and rarely have I written down these words with more sincerity - I hope this finds you well.

Almost certainly you are here because you value the quality and the integrity of the journalism produced by The Yorkshire Post’s journalists - almost all of which live alongside you in Yorkshire, spending the wages they earn with Yorkshire businesses - who last year took this title to the industry watchdog’s Most Trusted Newspaper in Britain accolade.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

And that is why I must make an urgent request of you: as advertising revenue declines, your support becomes evermore crucial to the maintenance of the journalistic standards expected of The Yorkshire Post. If you can, safely, please buy a paper or take up a subscription. We want to continue to make you proud of Yorkshire’s National Newspaper but we are going to need your help.

Postal subscription copies can be ordered by calling 0330 4030066 or by emailing [email protected]. Vouchers, to be exchanged at retail sales outlets - our newsagents need you, too - can be subscribed to by contacting subscriptions on 0330 1235950 or by visiting www.localsubsplus.co.uk where you should select The Yorkshire Post from the list of titles available.

If you want to help right now, download our tablet app from the App / Play Stores. Every contribution you make helps to provide this county with the best regional journalism in the country.

Sincerely. Thank you.

James Mitchinson

Editor

Related topics:North YorkshireYorkshire PostSheffieldBritain