VOLUNTEERS who give up their time to help out at Craven libraries were amongst those at a 'thank you' event held in Harrogate.

Library volunteers joined those who help out at Harrogate libraries for the event hosted by the chairman of North Yorkshire County Council, Cllr Helen Swiers.

Cllr Swiers passed on her thanks to around 70 volunteers at two tea parties held at Bilton House, as part of a series of events held across the county.

She told the volunteers: “I would like to express my sincere thanks on behalf of the county council for all that you have done to keep the libraries in this part of the county not only open, but thriving. As a council, we realise that this has meant that all of you, in various ways, have sacrificed your time and energy, some of you for years, to serve the needs of your communities through your work in libraries.”

The county’s library service was reorganised in April last year in a partnership between the council and community groups. It led to more libraries moving to direct management by communities - while others welcomed more volunteers to help to maintain their level of service.

Nearly a year on, all North Yorkshire’s community libraries are going strong and heading in new directions to ensure that they are a focal point for their communities.

Libraries in Harrogate and Craven have together, since April, have had 563,000 visits and have lent out more than 588,000 books or other items. Together, the districts' libraries have more than 31,000 regular users. Volunteers in the Home Library Service are delivering books to more than 550 housebound people in these areas. In addition, many and varied queries have been answered, stories read, volunteers recruited, funds raised, buildings managed and events planned and run.

In May, Cllr Swiers attended the opening of Bentham's new library, which is jointly run by Pioneer Projects.

"The new library is bright and attractive and is a wonderful example of partnership working between the community and the county council," she said.

She also went along to open days at the libraries in Gargrave and in Settle.

"Many other libraries have made significant improvements to their buildings this year, including Embsay and Grassington, who have refurbished with the help of some extra county council funding," she said.

Cllr Swiers also paid tribute to all those who had been involved in the Summer Reading Challenge.

More than 3,000 children took part in the challenge, with Gargrave's library being one of six to significantly exceed their starter target.

She said young volunteers were a great help in planning and promoting the challenge, particularly at Skipton, Ripon, Knaresborough, Harrogate and in South Craven.

“Many libraries have started new groups and activities during the past few months, including story times for the under-fives, reading groups for adults, knit and natter groups, jigsaw and board game groups, family history workshops and computer sessions. All these help to make the library a vital community hub and to reduce loneliness and isolation," she said.

“Volunteers have often gone above and beyond, utilising skills and expertise in their roles to expand the services libraries offer but also offering vital help behind the scenes to help everything run smoothly, particularly in the larger libraries. We couldn’t manage without you."