WITH libraries closing across the region as local authorities strive to make savings, a remote community is bucking the trend.

The picture-postcard village of Gillamoor, on the edge of the North York Moors now has a new book-lending service, thanks to the actions of a local woman.

And in contrast to the usual rules users are never at risk of a fine and can take out books as they wish.

Barn Books has been set up by Judith Duncan at her home in the village after she was looking for a way of doing something with her own vast collection of 1,200 children’s books and about 600 adult books.

She was writing her will when she realised she wanted to do something positive with the collection – so she set up a library in the barn attached to her house.

One of the rooms has now been transformed into a library and another villager has even made her a Barn Books sign so it can be easily found.

“I have been a bit concerned about the lack of mobile libraries going around and I have a lot of books and lots of children’s books,” she said.

“I have such a lot of books and I found libraries will not take them because it costs too much to process them and hospitals will only take a few at a time so I thought of Barn Books.”

Unlike a regular library where you can only borrow the book for a certain period of time and face a fine for returning it late, the volumes on offer at Barn Books do not have to be checked out - meaning there will be no late fines if you take your time to read it.

And Judith has no objection if people want to keep a book either.

“Anyone can come and take a book and it does not have to be checked out,” she said.

“I am happy for people to come and just browse the books of even sit and read, whatever they want to do. If someone decides to keep a book, that’s fine, they can keep it.”