STORIES of the long, fascinating history of York and North Yorkshire’s places and people will be brought to life in the county’s libraries during Local and Community History Month.

For this year’s theme, Then and Now, libraries will join the national drive to encourage people to discover the excitement of uncovering the history on their doorstep.

In Ryedale, events will include a mini-exhibition of the Woodhams Stone Collection in Malton, a then-and-now photographic display, a series of Beck Isle objects and ancestry research sessions at Pickering, and, at Kirkbymoorside, a then-and-now display by the local history group.

Neil Irving, of the county council, said: “Then and Now is an ideal theme for our libraries.

“While they are very much forward-looking and at the centre of today’s communities, libraries are also repositories of a wealth of local history and ideal places for people to come together to listen to stories and join discussions about what made us and the places we live what they are today.”

In York meanwhile, there's a book giveaway on May 9 from 10am - 2pm at Tang Hall Explore with a chance to pick up a free copy of Louisa Elliott by Ann Victoria Roberts, which is heavily based on the archive and local history collections. It's first come first served.