RESHAPED plans for the future of libraries across North Yorkshire are set to be rubber-stamped later this month.

North Yorkshire County Council’s executive committee will decide whether to put in place proposals which would see libraries in "key" locations stay open, but with fewer staff and reduced opening times.

Under the revised plans, libraries in the bigger towns - including Catterick, Northallerton, Richmond, Ripon, Stokesley and Thirsk - will have fewer staff and reduced opening hours, with no Sunday opening.

Libraries in 15 smaller towns - including Bedale, Colburn, Easingwold, Hawes and Leyburn - will be supported with accommodation, books, IT facilities and broadband connectivity.

Some staff would be provided, but their numbers would be lower than the current levels.

The council said the current mobile library service was "no longer sustainable" and "other solutions" would have to be found, with suggestions from a consultation over the controversial plans including setting up library outlets in village halls, shops and pubs.

The "supermobile" service, which caters for remote areas, would be retained.

The authority has said it needs to cut its library budget by £1.7m, with the majority of this needing to be found over the next two years, and a report on discussions with communities about how the new service would work is due to go before the executive in October.

The council reacted to criticism of the cuts it initially proposed by spreading the savings across the county.

A wide-ranging public consultation on the planned changes was held, the results of which are due to be presented to members of the council’s care and independence scrutiny committee, which meets tomorrow.

In a report to committee members, Julie Blaisdale, the council’s assistant director for library services, notes how highly North Yorkshire taxpayers value their library services.

She wrote: "Formal consultation with both staff and members of the public began in early December and continued for a three-month period.

"The library service had always been aware of how much value local communities placed on [it], however, the response to the consultation far exceeded expectations.

"The county council received an overwhelming response from communities across North Yorkshire with more than 6,000 written responses received, 10,000 signatures on petitions and over 2,000 people attending the 20 public meetings."

The comments of the scrutiny committee will be forwarded to the executive, which meets on June 14, when a decision will be made.