About the Library
Library services available
Sherburn & Villages Community Library open five times a week (see opening hours and location map) thanks to support from more than 50 volunteers.
You can borrow a range of books for all ages in a variety of formats, including large print and audio. DVDs and foreign language titles are also available for loan plus jigsaws and games. Loan items can be renewed online and by phone. You can request any item that is not immediately available and reserve books for £1. There are a variety of activities and groups at the library.
You can also search for resources online and renew book loans through the North Yorkshire Council website.
Additional services at the library include:
- baby changing, toilet facilities, and access to free sanitary products
- family history and local history groups
- free online access to Ancestry.com, Find My Past, the British Newspaper Archive, Access to Research, theory test pro, encyclopaedia britannica, BFI replay (film/tv/video archive)
- Home Library service (HLIS)
- help and support using IT
- help with your blue badge and bus pass applications
- internet and computer access and free Wifi
- information point
- local studies
- maps
- reading well collections and wellbeing bags for loan
- photocopying, printing, scanning and laminating
- study area
- small meeting room for hire
- tea, coffee and hot chocolate
- children’s area
- activities and groups (including children’s story time, stay and play and craft sessions)
- Warm Welcome Space location
- breastfeeding friendly
- dementia friendly
- automatic doors, disabled toilet facilities, induction loop
- free audio books, eBooks, e-magazines
- free newspapers and magazines to read on-site
- gifts for sale
- community noticeboards
Library history
After a public consultation exercise held between November 2014 and February 2015, North Yorkshire County Council (known as North Yorkshire Council from April 2023) issued their final proposals in July 2015 for the future of the library service in the County. Under these proposals, in this area Selby library would remain a Council run library also providing professional librarian support to local community managed libraries, including Sherburn in Elmet.
The Library Steering Group consisting of concerned individuals was formed in order to create a community group to take on this responsibility.
Sherburn in Elmet Community Trust (renamed Sherburn and Villages Community Trust in 2023) negotiated a 5 year lease for that part of the building needed to operate the library. A fantastic response to the appeal for volunteers has produced over 60 local people who were willing to give their time to ensure that the library continues to serve our community. The challenge of organising this large number of volunteers has been achieved enabling us to provide a seamless service since April 2017. See our Library Volunteers page if you’re interested in helping us.
Support has been received from all of the local Parish Councils which, together with the revenue that we can generate ourselves, ensures that we are financially viable.
In September 2017 the Steering Group became the Sherburn & Villages Community Library Management Group and continues its work under the governance of Sherburn and Villages Community Trust.
The library is proud of keeping its regular opening hours, including through bad weather. We were forced to close during the Covid pandemic in 2020 but quickly adapted protocols to keep everyone safe.
We completed an internal refurbishment in 2021, including roof leak repairs, internal decoration, new carpet, new bookshelves on wheels so we can use the library space more flexibility, revised welcome desk and position and new sofas and chairs, plus improvements to the children’s area.