About Us
Welcome to Stokesley Community Library!
Nestled in the heart of the vibrant market town of Stokesley, we’re a proud, volunteer-run library working in partnership with North Yorkshire County Council — serving Stokesley and its surrounding rural villages with love, dedication, and a great deal of enthusiasm!
Our Story
Stokesley Community Library became a community-run library on 1 April 2017, officially opened by celebrated historical novelist and academic Philippa Gregory on 15 June 2017. From that very first day, we’ve been driven by a simple belief — that a great library is at the heart of every great community.
Phillipa Gregory, June 2017
Everything we do is made possible by the generosity of people who care about this library. We’re gratefully funded by Stokesley Town Council — who also support the employment of our Library Manager — along with contributions from various local Parish Councils, fundraising events, donations, and the backing of wonderful local businesses.
We offer a wide and ever-growing range of accessible library services, and we’re proud to be a genuine community hub for everyone. Browse this website to discover everything we have to offer — or better still, come in and see us for yourself. A warm welcome is always guaranteed!
Meet the Team
At the heart of Stokesley Community Library are our incredible volunteers. Without them, none of this would be possible! We’re fortunate to have a number of dedicated volunteer-led groups who contribute enormously to the life of the library, including:
- The Children’s Development Group
- Storytime deliverers
- The Events Committee (including Communications)
- Various one-off project groups
From shifting furniture and serving refreshments to running our beloved Film Nights and everything in between, our volunteers are the beating heart of everything we do here at Stokesley Community Library.
Claire Baxter
Library Manager funded by Stokesley Town Council
Jackie Nithakorn
NYCC Library Supervisor
Sue Ward
Volunteer Coordinator & Volunteer
Gill DeCosemo
Pop-up Libraries
Pat Atkins
Publicity Co-ordinator & Volunteer
Fancy Joining the Team?
We’re always delighted to welcome new volunteers! Head over to our Volunteering page to find out how you can get involved — we’d love to have you on board.
How We’re Governed
The library is overseen by a dedicated Board of Trustees, who work tirelessly behind the scenes to ensure the library remains a vital, sustainable, and welcoming resource for everyone in Stokesley and the surrounding area. Our Trustees bring a wealth of skills, experience, and passion to their roles — all driven by a shared commitment to keeping this much-loved community space alive and flourishing for generations to come.
The Trustees of Stokesley Community Library
David Heggarty
Chair
Carolyn Kitching
Treasurer
Claire Craster
HR
Philip Maudsley
Health & Safety
Melisa Angus
Deputy Treasurer
Sally Atkinson
Rudy Bilous
Peter Chandler
Gill DeCosemo
Secretary
Jeff King
Interested in Becoming a Trustee?
We’re always keen to hear from people who share our passion for the library and want to help shape its future. If you’d like to find out more about what being a Trustee involves, please get in touch — we’d love to hear from you!