SOME 21 libraries that are currently threatened with closure will be fully funded by North Yorkshire County Council until the end of March 2017. It is on April Fool’s Day next year that volunteers must take over.

If community groups come up with appropriate plans for running, staffing and raising an agreed part of the costs by that date, then the council’s library service will continue to supply books. This means that these libraries will remain part of the county’s – and thus the country’s – network of public libraries.

Bedale Community Library is holding a Volunteer Open Day next Thursday (Nov 3) from 11am to 7pm in the library. At 2pm and 6pm there will be talks from representatives of the new management committee and the current management of council libraries. In addition, there will be people on hand to answer questions all day, as well as tea and coffee.

We need around 50 volunteers to maintain present opening hours and to run rotas that are not too tying. There will be a wide range of things for volunteers to do, and a lot of support for them. We hope to see many people from Bedale and the surrounding areas on the day.

People can contact us at bedalecommunitylibrary@ gmail.com, on 07858 761 356 and through Facebook and Twitter.

Susan Perkins for Bedale Community Library, Newton-le-Willows, Bedale