IT will have come as no surprise to anyone aware of the current financial pressures faced by local authorities that North Yorkshire County Council has launched a new review of its library services.

It is less than three years since the result of the last round of cuts were implemented. These changes resulted in the loss of 36 full-time equivalent library staff jobs and reduced opening hours at every library in the county.

However, only one library - Great Ayton - lost all its funding and paid staff, and is now run by the local community.

The council now plans to roll-out this community model to 20 other libraries in the county, including Bedale, Colburn, Leyburn, Stokesley and Thirsk.

Five larger libraries would operate a hybrid model, retaining just a single member of staff who would be helped by volunteers.

While the review is no surprise, the immediate call to arms from library users could also have been anticipated. Even in this age of the internet, libraries are rightly treasured. They have a vital role to play in early years education, community outreach and lifelong learning. Any changes which threaten their future must be handled with extreme caution.