DENHOLME Community Library and its reading room have been given protection as an Asset of Community Value.

Shipley Area Committee, made up of Bradford councillors, have agreed to give the special status to the volunteer-run library until 2023.

This means that if the council decides to sell the library facility, community organisations will be given the first opportunity to bid for it.

The library volunteers applied for the status under government legislation aimed at protecting public buildings and land from being sold to private developers.

Bradford Council transferred control of the library to the community six years ago, and it has been run successfully by volunteers ever since.

The library is based in Denholme Mechanics Institute.

In a separate move, Denholme Town Council is currently spearheading efforts to transfer control of the entire Mechanics Institute to the local community.

Asset of Community Value status has been granted to many public buildings and amenities over the past few years since the legislation was introduced, including Haworth Fire Station, Wilsden Post Office.

The Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) has gained the status for more than1,200 pubs across the country, including the Ling Bob and Bell Inn, both in Wilsden, and The Willow Tree, in Riddlesden.

In 2016 Haworth, Stanbury and Cross Roads Parish Council successfully applied for Asset of Community Value status for Central Park in Haworth, Mytholmes recreation ground, Stanbury recreation ground and Cross Roads Park.

The Denholme Community Library volunteers recently received a cheque for £200 from supermarket chain Asda, representing money raised through its green tokens collection.

The money was earmarked for a laptop computer for the library’s outreach work.