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01
Dec 2024
Are libraries still a valuable asset to local communities?
A recent Freedom of Information Request (FOI) requested by the BBC discovered that more than 180 UK council-run libraries have closed or been handed over to volunteer groups since 2016.
In total, 31 libraries across North Yorkshire are managed by communities with services delivered in partnership.
North Yorkshire County Council (NYC) manages six core libraries - Harrogate, Malton, Scarborough, Skipton, Selby and Northallerton - and five hybrid libraries - Knaresborough, Ripon, Whitby, Malton and Filey.
NYC’s executive member for culture, arts and housing Cllr Simon Myers said:
We maintain a large network of libraries in North Yorkshire and have no plans to close any of them or reduce opening hours.
In addition to lending out books, our libraries play a crucial role as community hubs, particularly for children, older adults and people with disabilities providing access to essential services, digital resources and social activities.
During the winter months they provide warmth, company and support to those affected by poverty and social isolation.
Looking beyond the statistics, the question is: what do people still use libraries for?
It’s clearly not as simple as correlating the decline with a growing disinterest in reading in favour of smartphones and the internet.
The Stray Ferret went to spend the day at Knaresborough library to find out more.
9.30am: Today (Thursday) the opening hours are 9.30am-1.30pm and perhaps unsurprisingly, there’s nobody waiting for the library doors to open.
According to research by North Yorkshire Council, the number of Knaresborough residents who visited the library in the financial year 2022/23 was 110,191.
For context, Harrogate library attracted 177,629 visits by residents, Ripon reported 73,428 and Starbeck 18,676.
The IT suite and study space is located upstairs, a small, open-plan room with nine desktop computers, tables, and a very retro-looking microfiche reader. There’s a great view overlooking Market Square from the desk – it’s the perfect spot to see the town waking up in real time.
9.45am: After getting settled at a desk, the first impression is that the space is warm; actually warm, not ‘central heating on for an hour and then feel guilty when you look at the smart meter’ warm.
The winter months is especially challenging for those suffering fuel poverty – another rise in gas and electricity bills has been confirmed for January – so having a free, heated space to use can be an invaluable asset to the community.
Knaresborough library is mentioned on both HADCA and the campaign group Warm Welcome’s lists of places offering support during the cold weather. Towards the back of the building, there’s a room dedicated to being a ‘community living room’, complete with comfy chairs, blankets and a baby play pen.
There’s even a table lamp on, rather than the overhead light to lend the impression of being in a front room.
The community living room in Knaresborough Library
10am: The IT suite is slowly coming to life, with a steady rotation of people making use of the services.
Over the next hour, there’s about seven different people who come and go, all from an older demographic. Most stay on average for about twenty minutes, using the computers to browse the web.
One man explains he doesn't have internet at home, but does have an email address he likes to check once a week.
10:30am: Downstairs in the main library, there still aren’t many browsing the shelves yet. Instead, there’s a few people using the Newcastle Building Society desk.
The building society first opened a community branch in 2022 in the library, 18 months after Knaresborough was left without a bank in town. There's now a banking hub round the corner, but the desk in the library remains popular.
Speaking to the Stray Ferret when the branch first opened, Cllr Greg White said:
The opening of a Newcastle Building Society branch in Knaresborough library has been welcomed in the local community…and is a great way of multi-purposing an already well-used building.
The offer of financial services has significantly increased footfall into Knaresborough library and is encouraging new visitors through the doors.
11:30am: After a quieter start to the morning, the car park in Market Place is filling up, and while many might be visitors to the town, there’s definitely an uptick in the amount of people in the library too.
An older lady and a young child are checking out a handful of books at the self-service machines. She’s a grandma on childcare duty and estimates that they pay a visit ‘every other week’.
She describes having a local library as ‘very useful’, especially when it comes to keeping her grandson entertained.
We like having this routine of coming into town and swapping books – it’s a nice thing to do.
The official opening of of Newcastle Building Society inside Knaresborough Library
12:15pm: Outside, pupils from King James's school are queuing for Thomas the Baker and Café Nero. And while it doesn’t seem many have wandered into the library on their lunch break, it’s still the busiest it’s been downstairs.
There’s a couple taking advantage of the £1 coffee machine, sat chatting on the sofa – no hushed tones needed. Another group of women have congregated around the main helpdesk, talking to the librarian.
Any myths about libraries being places of silent and solemn study are certainly dispelled; while by no means noisy or distracting, it's certainly livelier than the stereotype would have you believe.
The meeting rooms aren’t in use today, but a quick look at the library’s Facebook page shows there’s a whole host of monthly activities planned, especially on the run up to Christmas.
Next Wednesday (December 4), there’s ‘Creative Corner for Seniors’, a monthly craft session. Previous events also include chair yoga, activity mornings for Manor Care Home, and breastfeeding support sessions.
1:30pm: Over the next hour or so before closing time, there’s a steady trickle of people in and out of the automatic doors, all for a variety of different purposes.
What’s striking is that it’s in the latter days of the working week – and one in which the library’s opening hours are reduced – yet there are still plenty who use the services it can offer.
The BBC’s recent findings certainly paint a stark picture for the current state of libraries and raise questions about their future.
One thing is certain however: even by spending one weekday at Knaresborough library, it’s clear to see that it still stands as a valuable asset to the community, serving an important function for the town’s residents.
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