A LIBRARY in York is to close next weekend due to fears over the structural integrity of the building.

City of York Council says Haxby Library Explore library will close on July 16.

A spokeswoman said arrangements were being made for the library services to be provided locally.

The library was built around 1960 and has recently undergone a structural inspection.

The spokeswoman said: "While it remains open at present, ongoing structural concerns mean that the building will close on Saturday 16 July."

The children’s library at Haxby Explore will transfer to a room in Oaken Grove for the school holidays, so the library can continue its summer challenge, The Big Friendly Read for children and young people, which this year celebrates 100 years of Roald Dahl.

The spokeswoman said: "Other solutions for the short, medium and longer term are being considered with Explore and other partners in the Haxby area."

The nearest other library is at New Earswick.

Fiona Williams, chief executive of Explore York said: “Our main concern here must be the safety of our staff and the public. Haxby is one of our most used and loved libraries and it is really important to us that we use this opportunity to develop new partnerships as we develop both short and long term solutions”

Cllr Nigel Ayre, council executive member for culture, leisure and tourism, said: “As the council owns the building we will be working closely with Explore York to help ensure there will be minimum disruption for library users in the Haxby area.

"Together with the library service and the community we will be looking at all future options to ensure that local residents have continued library services.”

Martin Crosby, Chair of Trustees of Haxby and Wigginton Youth and Community Association at Oaken Grove Community Centre, said: “Haxby Explore Library is a really important community resource and having heard about their recent problems, we thought it was important to step in to provide support and to help make sure that the great work that Bev Leymus and the team do can continue whilst they work out a longer term solution."