Access to the library’s book collection dating back to the 8th Century is planned to be closed as a way of reducing the Minster’s 600,000 annual deficit.

There are also plans to introduce a compulsory admission charge to visit the Minster.

But City of York MP, Hugh Bayley, says the should launch an appeal to provide an endowment.

Speaking on the Politics Show on BBC One in Yorkshire and , Mr Bayley said: “This is not a roomful of books no one will miss.

Hugh Bayley says the library is not just a collection of old books

“It is the biggest and most serious library that any cathedral in Britain owns.”

On Saturday, campaigners opposed to the planned closure of part of the library held a protest outside the Minster.

Protest organiser Paul Davis said: “Please, please, please keep this building open.

“It’s a valuable resource and we need it desperately.”

News

The Archbishop of York, Dr David Hope, is known to be unhappy at the ideas which were spearheaded by the former Dean of York, Dr Raymond Furnell, who retired last month.

Talks have been taking place between the Archbishop and the Acting Dean, Canon Glyn Webster, to find a way forward.

On Monday, Dr Hope is expected to make an announcement about the future of the library which holds more than 120,000 books and .

A Minster spokesman said that at the news conference there would also be an announcement about how the system of charging tourists for admission to the Minster will operate.

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