North Yorkshire Council has increased the fine for an overdue book at its libraries from 30p to 35p per day.

The council said it was the first increase in almost a decade and was being made “in the light of increased pressures on finances”.

The changes will only apply to adult library members and not children.

The price to print an A4 piece of black and white paper at the library has also increased from 10p to 20p. It remains 50p to print a page of colour.

In an email sent to members yesterday, the council said income from fines and other charges goes into the library budget and contributes to ongoing service delivery costs.

The maximum fine for one book is £8.

The email added:

“Charges incurred at our community libraries goes directly back to the groups managing those libraries and makes up a valuable part of the income needed to meet their running costs.

“To mitigate the increase and to help customers keep track of items on loan we will be introducing reminders about when books are due back.”

For details of all library charges visit the council’s website.

Last year, Harrogate Library was the most popular in the county with 177,629 visits.

Visitor numbers at other libraries in the former Harrogate district area were Knaresborough with 110,191, Ripon with 73,428 and Starbeck with 18,676.

In 2015, the running of 31 libraries in the county was handed to volunteers in the face of mounting financial pressures brought on by austerity.

In this model, the council’s library service continues to provide the infrastructure including books and public IT, as well as some paid staff support to ensure consistency across the county.

The community libraries account for just under 40% of active library users and deliver on average 50% of the total business for book lending and computer access.

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An exhibition dedicated to local historian Malcom Neesam is currently on display at Harrogate Library.

The Public Library, The People’s University exhibition features about 40 works by local artist Matt Wyatt – including a portrait of Malcom Neesam and a written tribute to him.

Mr Neesam, who was regarded Harrogate‘s foremost historian, died last year on his 76th birthday.

He grew up in Harrogate and spent most of his life working as a librarian and archivist, with a passion for writing about the town’s rich history.

Mr Wyatt said:

“The show is dedicated to Malcom Neesam with his portrait and written tribute on display.

“Visitors are invited to make art to add to the display and write reviews giving feedback and critiques. This encourages creativity from the viewers should they wish to explore this.”

The title of the exhibition draws on a conversation between Mr Wyatt and Mr Neesam, he added.

The artwork is in a variety of mediums – including oil and acrylic paintings, collages, photographs and writings – and aims to celebrate how the library serves our community.

Some of the works on display, including a portrait of local writer Joel Dean and the Odeon Harrogate.

Various community groups, including Harrogate Writers Collective and Harrogate Film Society, are also signposted throughout the exhibition.

In addition, there are more than 100 pieces of work by local people and school pupils to enjoy. Visitors are invited to create and add their own artwork to the display to “encourage creativity”.

Mr Wyatt told the Stray Ferret:

“It aims to build community, local culture and bring more people to enjoy the library.”

The library exhibition is free to enter and is located on Victoria Avenue.

The exhibition is on display now and runs until Saturday, November 4.

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Harrogate Library topped a list of the most used libraries in North Yorkshire last year.

According to figures published by North Yorkshire Council, there were 237,100 books and e-books taken out at the library on Victoria Avenue during the 2022/23 financial year as well as 177,629 visits by residents.

The figures show a big jump from the previous two years, which were disrupted by covid lockdowns and restrictions.

In 2020/21, the library had 47,809 visits and in 2021/22 there were 122,409.

Last year, Harrogate Library had more than 50% the number of visitors than the county’s second most popular library, which was Scarborough with 114,829 visits.

Visitor numbers at other libraries in the former Harrogate district area include Knaresborough with 110,191, Ripon with 73,428 and Starbeck with 18,676.

Knaresborough Library is the second most popular in the district.

Embsay-with-Eastby Community Library was the least used library in North Yorkshire last year with 2,841 visits, however the volunteer-run library near Skipton is only open nine hours a week.

In 2015, the running of 31 libraries in the county was handed to volunteers in the face of mounting financial pressures brought on by austerity.

In this model, the council’s library service continues to provide the infrastructure including books and public IT, as well as some paid staff support to ensure consistency across the county.

The community libraries account for just under 40% of active library users and deliver on average 50% of the total business for book lending and computer access.

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A Knaresborough man has been jailed after admitting committing indecent exposure at Harrogate Library and on Kingsley Drive.

Billy Wood, 30, of Windsor Lane, was charged with committing the offences in summer last year.

He also pleaded guilty to using abusive words with intent to cause fear of violence and two counts of possessing cannabis.

Wood appeared before Harrogate Magistrates Court to be sentenced yesterday.

Sarah Tyrer, prosecuting, told the court the 30-year-old had been reported masturbating in front of staff in Harrogate Library on July 15, 2022.

The following month on August 11, a resident on Kingsley Drive saw a man wearing a white England football shirt across from his house in front of a neighbour’s property.

Reading the witness statement, Ms Tyrer said Wood had been sat on the garden wall and then walked across the driveway.

Wood then proceeded to masturbate in the street in front of the house, the court heard, and the resident called the police.

The witness said:

“I began to feel worried for my neighbour as I was aware she lived alone.”

After arresting Wood, police said the woman was informed of the incident and that she was unaware of his actions.

The 30-year-old was also found to be in possession of cannabis when taken to custody at Harrogate Police Station.

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Wood was also convicted of using threatening and abusive language towards bar staff in The Crown in Knaresborough in July 2022 after he was refused drinks, which staff suspected were being bought for customers who had already been refused them.

Police also found him to be in possession of cannabis after he was arrested on that night.

Sean Wilson, defending for Wood, told the court the 30-year-old had an undiagnosed mental health condition and that he was a drug user.

Mr Wilson said that the defendant had reduced his drug use and needed mental health support rather than a custodial sentence.

He said:

“He has reduced the amount of substances he has been taking. He does have an addictive personality.”

Mr Wilson added a prison sentence would be “more of a crash to his system” by removing access to drugs, but would not give him the mental health support he needed.

However, Magistrate Ms Allan sentenced Wood to 32 weeks in prison for the public exposure offences and a six-week sentence to be served concurrently for the threatening of violence charge.

She told Wood the sentence was “for the protection of the public”.

He was made to pay a victim surcharge of £154 and £85 in court costs.

Wood was also ordered to sign onto the sex offenders’ register for five years upon release.

The popular Victorian tradition of telling spooky tales at Christmas is set to be revived in Harrogate next week.

An evening of ghost stories will be held at Harrogate Library on Thursday, December 1.

It is being organised by Paul Forster, best known as the man behind the Harrogate Ghost Walk which takes place twice a month around the town.

He said:

“It’s bringing back that tradition of telling ghost stories at Christmas, which was big in the Victorian era.

“Charles Dickens was at the forefront of it all with A Christmas Carol and that paved the way for others.

“It was all about penance and seeing the best in people. It has got strong Christian messages, but with a spooky twist to make you think about lost loved ones.”

Paul has researched traditional ghost stories for the event, adapting them for a modern audience.

Tickets for the event are £15 each, including a mince pie and glass of mulled wine. There will be two sessions, at 6.15pm and 8.15pm.

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Meanwhile, Paul said his first year of running the ghost walk has proved hugely successful, with more than 1,500 people taking part. An increasing number of visitors to the town are attending each month, and Paul said some paranormal enthusiasts have travelled from across the country to try out a new walk in Harrogate.

A series of events around Halloween recreating a seance held by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and Harry Houdini in Harrogate also proved hugely popular – but Paul said there were a number of strange happenings during the performances at the Crown Hotel.

“Some of it was in my control, but stuff happened that wasn’t in my control.

“The temperature in the room just dropped noticeably – you could see your breath.

“Then a woman in the front row jumped and screamed and said something had grabbed her leg. Her son, who is a complete sceptic, then said something had brushed past him. It was really odd.”

On the back of the events’ success, Paul is teaming up with close-up magician Neil Bradley Smith to run a residency at the Crown Hotel from December 16.

Under the title Forster and Smith, the pair will deliver their Impossibilities night of magic and mind-reading once a month.

The daughter and son of Alf Wight, author of the James Herriot books, will provide an insight into their father’s famous stories, at Harrogate Library this week.

The book signing event on Wednesday with Rosie Page and Jim Wight marks the publication of The Wonderful World of James Herriot.

It is being organised by Harrogate bookshop Imagined Things and will include a question and answer session.

The new book, a classic collection of the late author’s stories, contains insights from his children.

It looks sure to appeal to fans of the best-selling All Creatures Great and Small books and the current smash-hit Channel 5 TV series, set in the rural communities of the Yorkshire Dales.

Ian Ashton, managing director, the World of James Herriot tourist attraction in Thirsk, said:

“Rosie and Jim’s insights add authenticity to the many tales of the animals and people which are at the heart of Herriot’s stories.

“There’s never a dull moment in Herriot’s company, whether he’s becoming pen pals with Tricki Woo the spoilt Pekingese, dodging a raging bull on a risky artificial insemination assignment, or the inevitable trials and tribulations of lambing season, Rosie and Jim have seen it all”.

The book signing starts at 7.15. Tickets cost £5 (redeemable to those who purchase a copy of the book) and are available at the shop, or by calling 01423 391301.

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A host of activities are set to take place in Harrogate district libraries to encourage lifelong learning.

Libraries Week will take place from October 3 until October 9 to highlight a wide range of services, resources and activities taking place in libraries.

Harrogate, Boroughbridge, Knaresborough and Ripon libraries will stage events next week.

They include:

• A “Try Something New Fair” at Harrogate Library on October 6 and Ripon Library on October 7.
• Poetry readings at Boroughbridge and Ripon libraries on October 6.
• Learn Something New sessions at Knaresborough, Ripon and Boroughbridge libraries on October 3 and 6.

Cllr Greg White, North Yorkshire County Council’s executive member for libraries, said: 

“Libraries Week is an opportunity to showcase all of the fantastic activities the service has to offer. This year, it’s all about celebrating the role that libraries play in supporting life-long learning.

“Throughout the week a number of libraries will host an activities fair to encourage residents to find out more about local groups and events. There is so much to choose from so I would urge everyone to get involved.”

For more information on the events taking place, visit the North Yorkshire County Council website here.

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Harrogate Photographic Society has announced plans for its 100^th anniversary, which include showcasing historic images of the town as well as photos from the early days of Ukraine’s independence.

The society was founded on October 23, 1922 and was originally based at a shop on King’s Road.

Mike Hudson, the society’s president for its centenary year, said:

“There were seven members originally but that rapidly expanded… and it took off big time from then.”

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A team from the society has gone through the image archives at Harrogate Library and North Yorkshire County Council to find pictures from that time.

Many images have been lost but the ones which remain are set to be digitised and displayed to the public in the near future.

Mr Hudson said they were hoping to preserve elements of Harrogate’s history. He added:

“When someone passes away, the sons, daughters and relatives… [put photos] in the bin or in the skip and they’re lost forever. We’re very lucky to have just a few photographs and prints that have survived.”

There are also plans for a special presentation alongside local jewellers Ogden of Harrogate about the discovery of Tutankhamun’s tomb in Egypt in 1922.

JR Ogden was tasked with advising archaeologist Howard Carter on the jewels and gold found within the tomb.

The covid pandemic was a challenge for the group, Mr Hudson admitted, with its meetings having to be held online.

However, he hoped that people would now be encouraged to return and meet the photographers in-person.

Some of the society members’ photos (photos: Harrogate Photographic Society)

Photos from Ukraine

Following the look at Harrogate’s past, the society will hear from globally renowned photographers including Tim Smith and Paul Haley.

Mr Smith will discuss his time spent in Ukraine and Russia in 1991, when Ukraine voted to declare independence from the Soviet Union.

Mr Haley, a war photographer, will be sharing his photos for the Falklands War, the 40^th anniversary of which was this year.

Mike Hudson believed that each photographer brought something different in terms of their work. He said:

“Each photographer has something special to say themselves. They each excel in the genres of photography they take.”