Council announces changes at libraries

40% of current staffing levels and volunteers at Filey venue

The story of North Yorkshire’s libraries will enter a new chapter next month with more of them being run by community groups.

Hybrid libraries – large, busy facilities catering for significant day-time populations such as the one at Filey – will have a combination of 40% current staffing levels and volunteers.

There are currently 36 volunteers helping to run the services at the Filey site.

Filey Library and Customer Services Centre’s opening hours will be unchanged.

They are: Monday 10am to 5pm; Tuesday closed; Wednesday 10am to 7pm, Thursday 1pm to 5pm; Friday 10am to 5pm; Saturday 10am to 1pm; Sunday closed.

In April, 21 more libraries run directly by communities will join the nine existing community libraries.

The other

12 libraries will remain under North Yorkshire County Council management, supported by volunteers to maintain their current levels of service.

The council had to consider the future of its libraries in the face of cuts in government funding.

The county’s library service has seen its budget almost halved from £7.8million in 2010 to £4.3million in 2017/18.

The county council is making a one-off investment of £350,000 to help to give libraries the flexibility needed to deliver the widening range of services they offer. County Councillor Chris Metcalfe, Executive Member for Library and Information Services, said: “North Yorkshire is the only authority that has gone into this process saying to communities that this is a partnership. We have worked with communities to help find the best way forward.

“This has led to great diversity, with libraries creating modelstobestservetheircom- munities. For example, Richmond, Catterick and Colburn libraries will come together under one community group.

“In Bentham, the library has found a new home through a partnership between volunteers and local charity Pioneer Projects.

“In Sherburn, the library will be part of a hub in a partnership with Selby District Council, and in some locations libraries are finding new homeswithinthecountycouncil’s extra care housing developments.

“Our libraries are cherished by their local communities and, because of that, they have survived and they will flourish.”

Turn to page 35 to read more about the library plans.