Mobile libraries off the road in autumn

North Yorkshire County Council has faced a public outcry over its controversial plans to enforce a series of library closures to counter cutbacks totalling £69m across all its services.

It was initially feared that £2.3m would have to cut by 2013/14 from the annual library budget of £7.5m, although the figure has reduced to £1.7m after additional funding was found.

But the decision was taken yesterday by senior members on the council’s executive to ditch the mobile library service, which is seen as a vital link to the county’s most isolated areas.

The council currently operates 10 mobile libraries, but the cost of the service has been deemed to be no longer sustainable and it will finish at the end of September.

Its demise will bring about the bulk of the £700,000 savings needed to be made during the current financial year.

A “supermobile library” which includes internet connection will continue to operate in the most rural reaches of North Yorkshire, although it will not be able to visit as many locations as the current 10-strong fleet.

However, senior councillors have stressed that they remain committed to preserving North Yorkshire’s network of branch libraries.

But even the most widely-used libraries will endure cutbacks in opening times and staffing levels.

Outlets in key locations such as Catterick, Filey, Harrogate and Knaresborough as well as Malton, Northallerton, Pickering and Richmond will have fewer staff and opening hours reduced, with no Sunday opening.

Initially it was feared as many as 23 of the authority’s 42 libraries could be forced to shut, although the number of sites at risk has now been reduced to eight.