BOOK loving volunteers are needed to keep a much-loved village library open for a vital 20 hours a week.

A year ago, Oldham Libraries announces they could no longer give Delph Community Association (DCA) 20 hours a week support from a library assistant at their Millgate premises.

DCA volunteers have run the library for 13 years following protests about plans to close it fully, and as a partnership with Oldham Libraries since 2010.

Phillida Shipp, library volunteer organiser and former chair of DCA, explained: "We have been told Delph Library was getting an unfairly large amount of support for the recoded footfall.

“It would be arranged so the library assistant would be withdrawn gradually until volunteers alone would be again be responsible for staffing the library.

“At present we only have the assistant Friday mornings, and this is due to finish soon. We will definitely miss her greatly.

“In order to continue to keep the library open for 20 hours a week we have had to increase the number of volunteers considerably.

“Since last March we have been lucky to gain 19 new and enthusiastic volunteers but have lost four of our existing team. The new volunteers have nearly all been trained to use the Oldham Libraries computer programme.

“But we still need volunteers to work on Friday and Saturday mornings, and to help our existing volunteer with the 'Bounce and Rhyme ' sessions for under 5's on Friday's from 10.15am to 11.30am.”

Andrew Bailey, Oldham’s Library Development Officer, said: “Visitor figures at Delph fluctuate but the average for last year was 321/month, (3854 total).

“The library needs volunteers to maintain its current opening hours and keep everything running smoothly. No experience is needed and the library service will help out with any training required.”