Two libraries in the Harrogate district have been highly commended for their improved performance. 

Boroughbridge community library and Bilton and Woodfield community library were among those recognised by the North Yorkshire County Council Library of the Year awards. 

Norton Hive library, near Malton, was crowned the overall winner.

Bilton and Woodfield library has had a lot to overcome in recent years. After funding cuts in 2011 it almost closed permanently, and is now run entirely by volunteers.

Shortly afterwards it had to find a new home and in 2017 a faulty boiler caused a major flood.

So Greta Knight, chair of the library, was pleased to accept the commendation:

“This award was a recognition of all the hard work done by everyone connected with the library and I was extremely proud to accept it on their behalf.”

Bilton library: Chairman Greta Knight and North Yorkshire County Council chairman, councillor Jim Clark, hold the award. Local member Councillor Geoff Webber (left) and libraries general manager Chrys Mellor (centre) surrounded by volunteers and supporters.

Boroughbridge library secretary Diana Holmes said: 

“It is great to have the hard work of our team of lovely volunteers recognised by this award. The library is at the heart of the local community and we know from customer comments that it is greatly valued. 

“The award gives us a very satisfying pat on the back from our colleagues at the county council and is especially appreciated in these current challenging times.”

Boroughbridge library: Chairman Ian Hick and North Yorkshire County Council chairman, councillor Jim Clark, hold the award. From left, area librarian Catherine Barlow, facilities manager Mike Collins, activities manager Barbara Horner, library manager Lee Taylor, treasurer Nic Holmes and secretary Diana Holmes.

Ordinarily, Boroughbridge library runs weekly activities such as story time, scrabble and one-to-one help with IT issues. These activities have been limited by the pandemic. 

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Greg White, the council’s executive member for libraries, said:

“The success of these community-run libraries is a testament to the local communities who will go to great lengths to keep the service running.

 “Despite lockdown resulting in the closure of our buildings we have increased our digital offer and seen 3,000 new customers join and a huge increase in digital borrowing.”

North Yorkshire County Council has organised several events and launched a new app as part of Libraries Week, which began today.

The app enables library members to view their account, search the library catalogue and reserve and renew books, as well as download e-books and e-audio books.

The week, which promotes libraries, also includes online events and activities.

Despite library closures due to Covid, about 3,000 people joined the library service over lockdown and there was a big increase in the number of e-books and e-audio books borrowed.

In the Harrogate district, the community library in Bilton and the main Harrogate library are offering virtual story tellings on Facebook this week.

Four authors and the poet, Andy Croft, are holding virtual events for North Yorkshire residents.

To find the event schedule, click here.

Bilton and Woodfield Community Library is among the libraries taking part.

Harrogate library is also holding a superhero competition for families. Craft packs can be collected from the library by families and once completed their superhero will go on display in the library.

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Greg White, the county council’s executive member for libraries, said:

“Nowadays, many customers expect services to be available easily on their phone. This app aims to meet those expectations.

“You’ll be able to find a local library, check its opening hours and check whether a book you’re looking for is there.”

Libraries are open to the public but each one has a limited capacity to ensure social distancing.

As well as wearing a mask, visitors are asked to limit their visit to 20 minutes.

Bilton and Woodfield Community Library will reopen with new coronavirus safety measures in place on Monday.

The library will be open on Mondays from 2pm to 4pm and on Thursdays and Fridays from 10am to noon. Customers do not need to pre-book but the library will only be allowed to admit about four people to browse.

Safety measures include a one-way system, a book quarantine and a time limit for people browsing the book collection.

The library has been operating a ‘select and collect’ service, which allows people to collect pre-ordered books.

The library is busy putting in social distancing measures.

Although people will be allowed back inside the building, they will not be permitted to use the shared computers yet.

Also, the library will not yet be able to hold community events, much to the volunteers’ sadness.

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Greta Knight, who helps to run the library, told the Stray Ferret:

“We are looking forward to Monday. But we can only do a fraction of what we normally do. Our tagline is ‘not just books’ but now we are just books.

It’s heartbreaking not to be able to open as a community space. That’s what we have established ourselves as and I think it has really worked. It is great to bring all of the kids in.”

When the boiler leaked and flooded the library in 2017.

The library has had a lot to contend with in recent years.

It could have closed permanently due to North Yorkshire County Council (NYCC) cuts in 2011 but the local community rallied round to save it by running the library entirely with volunteers.

Not long after that, the council sold the library’s former home at the old vicarage in Bilton so it moved to a vacant site at Woodfield School.

The volunteers had hoped a major flood caused by a faulty boiler in 2017 was the last of their troubles.

But coronavirus could have been catastrophic for the library, which needs funding of £9,000 a year. It was, however, saved by a government grant.