Although there had been a library in Embsay for many years before, Embsay-with-Eastby Community Library opened in its current guise in July 2012.

The former library was wholly funded and staffed by North Yorkshire County Council (NYCC), but when the opening ribbon was cut by Rev Louise Taylor Kenyon, the vicar of St.Mary’s Church, Embsay, the new community library became staffed entirely by volunteers and financed by volunteer-raised funds and various grants.

NYCC have not left the library entirely on its own, however, as the library is run in partnership with the County Council. The Library Service advises the library’s steering group, provides training to the volunteers and supplies the books and other loanable resources

Fundraising activities

Aside from having sufficient volunteers to staff the library on a week by week basis, the key challenge of keeping the library open is fundraising to cover the various running costs of the library. Such costs include the rental of the library’s room in the village hall and paying electricity, phone and Internet access bills. The library holds fundraising various events throughout the year to help cover these costs. These include coffee mornings, book sales and talks.

If you want to be more involved with the library either by volunteering or helping the library with a standing order then contact Val Lucas on vallucas52@gmail.com or 01756 795264.