THE executive committee of North Yorkshire County Council is to consider the report and recommendations on library cuts on July 7 at County Hall in Northallerton. Thousands of people have sent in their views via consultation forms, letters, petitions and by joining campaign groups across many towns from the dales and vales of York, Mowbray, Pickering, Ryedale, Selby and Cleveland.

So how are their fears for their library service, and their aspirations for positive change, being dealt in the report?

Well, there have been optimistic press headlines recently about “thousands force council re-think”, and apparently a small amount of new money has been found. Most of this, though, is to finance the induction of the many volunteers who will be needed to run the libraries if the cuts to staff go ahead on July 7.

The scrutiny committee meeting on June 5, at which members of the public and some campaigning councillors spoke, there was debate on issues such as the sustainability of volunteers, the unfairness of rural libraries being left without frontline staff , and the need to ‘support’ deprived areas –this is an unresolved thorny issue.

There meeting also raised the tricky task of ‘community groups’ undertaking fundraising to cover shortfalls in finance. Legal issues remain in connection with community group or trust governance.

A university lecturer, archivist and researcher and others deplored the knowledge to be lost –whether in the planned severe cutback of staff or in the legacy to children who need skilled support. People of all ages who are undertaking research for jobs or other tasks need a supportive, neutral and, above all, confidential environment in which to work.

If anyone would like to attend the meeting at County Hall on Tuesday, please would they contact the Legal and Democratic Services Department (01609-780780).

So many members of the public, even using on the present bus and train system, cannot get to Northallerton easily and on time from the coast or rural areas. For many people, this decision is being taken so near yet so far away.

John Dean, Nawton, York.