I HAVE refrained from commenting on the current debate over the future of many libraries in North Yorkshire, but I must take issue with your editorial headlined Keep libraries alive (D&S Times, July 10). You wrote: “Perhaps hybrid community libraries staffed by volunteers and overseen by professionals are the best of a bad bunch of alternatives.”

The residents of Great Ayton took over the operation of their village library three years ago with the support of our parish council and county council. We are now widely recognised as running a friendly and efficient service every bit as good, dare I say even better, than when it was wholly under county council control. Far from being the “best of a bad bunch of alternatives”, I believe that community operation of libraries can offer many real advantages.

It is a pity that debate over the transfer of libraries to communities has arisen as part of a cost-cutting exercise. How much better might it have been if the debate had been initiated before the present financial problems, and motivated by a desire to build stronger communities rather than the need to save money.

Ian Pearce, chairman, Great Ayton Discovery Centre Ltd.