Volunteers support city’s libraries

Residents from across the city turned out in force at a volunteering fair at York Explore Library last weekend.

Coun Sonja Crisp, cabinet member for leisure, cultural social inclusion at York Council, said: “Libraries are in the heart of our community and play an integral part in helping residents to communicate, discover and learn new and old things. But it’s not just the services that play an important role within our community, it’s the people who use these services too.

“I know some residents who visit Acomb Explore every day and have so much local knowledge and experience, which they’re able to now give back to their community through this initiative. This is what volunteering is all about and I thank everyone who is offering to give up their time to help their local library.”

Yesterday the Yorkshire Post revealed that all 22 libraries originally earmarked for closure by North Yorkshire County Council to counter £69m in cutbacks, are now almost certain to be kept open.