TOWN councillors in Kirkbymoorside are urging North Yorkshire County Council to re-think plans for a shake-up of its library.

The library would be based in Church House, in the Market Place, and it is expected to be designated a community-run operation in 2017 managed by volunteers.

“We want the council to look at other ways of saving money,” said Kirkbymoorside mayor, Councillor Chris Dowie.

But, said Coun Dowie: “We recognise that the county council needs to save money, but we believe it should come from elsewhere, not the libraries.”

County Councillor Val Arnold and leading county library officer Chris Mellor are being asked to meet town councillors to discuss the situation.

Coun Dowie said that at a meeting of representatives of the five Ryedale town councils, each had pledged support for keeping their libraries from County Hall.

Libraries in Helmsley, Pickering and Kirkbymoorside are each likely to become community-run, while Malton will retain its present status, and moves are already underway, being led by County Councillor Elizabeth Shields, to save Norton’s library.

Coun Dowie said: “We have 20 volunteers in Kirkbymoorside, but we will find it very difficult to recruit more.”