A UNIQUE library where users are not fined and can take books out as they wish has opened.

Barn Books, in Gillamoor, has been set up by Judith Duncan at her home in the village after she was looking for a way of doing something with the 1,200 children’s books and about 600 adult books she has.

Judith, who was writing her will at the time when she realised she wanted to do something with the books, has set up Barn Books in the barn attached to the side of her house.

She said that one of the rooms has been transformed into a library and another resident in the village has even made her a Barn Books sign so people can find the library.

“I have been a bit concerned about the lack of mobile libraries going around and I have a lot of books and lots of children’s books,” she said.

“I have such a lot of books and I found libraries will not take them because it costs too much to process them and hospitals will only take a few at a time so I thought of Barn Books.”

Unlike a regular library where you can only borrow the book for a certain period of time and face a fine for returning it late, the books on offer at Barn Books do not have to be checked out meaning there will be no late fines if you take your time to read it.

Judith said that she does not mind if people want to keep the books as well.

She said: “Anyone can come and take a book and it does not have to be checked out. I am happy for people to come and just browse the books of even sit and read, whatever they want to do. If someone decides to keep a book, that’s fine, they can keep it.”

Barn Books can be found at Yeoman’s Croft in Main Street.