The question is, Gozz, who should pay for it?

It's not state funded but it's very well run. For example, it provides a cheaper service (as described by Irene) than the British Library which IS state funded and charges an absolute fortune for photocopies.

Should it be us 4000 members subsidising your free library access?

The online access is as good as the lottery funding has allowed it to be. Perhaps we members should be stumping up a bit more of our hard earned cash to make sure you have better access?