Sir, – It is sad but, understandable, that North Yorkshire County Council is again seeking to cut costs, and sees one way ahead as asking local volunteers to take over the delivery of some services (D&S, March 21).

Our community-run library, the Great Ayton Discovery Centre, is held up as an example of what can be achieved. While it is very pleasing to have this recognition, I do have some concerns.

I would be most uncomfortable if our local experience was used to justify making redundancies elsewhere. The fact is that we took over our library because this was the only way to keep it open, and not because we thought that we could do a better job than the council.

Our subsequent success is not because we are a group of amateur volunteers running the venture on our own. Our success is due to our partnership between the county library service, Great Ayton Parish Council, and the residents of Great Ayton.

We receive our book and IT service from the county. We receive most of our operating costs from the parish council via the parish precept. This is possible because residents of the village generously pay a little more on their council tax.

We provide two paid members of staff, one on library matters and one on administration of the centre, to support the volunteers.

Our wonderful team of volunteers, who are widely recognised as giving an excellent standard of service, can only do this because they have the active support of the county and parish councils, and indeed the entire village.

IAN PEARCE Chairman, Great Ayton Discovery Centre.