In fact, county council sources claim readers will benefit from the "temporary" £280,000 budget reduction - with a service more "fit for purpose".

But the future of smaller libraries in areas such as Lillington, Whitnash and Harbury remains uncertain, with Leamington and Warwick MP James Plaskitt adding his concerns this week.

Cabinet members have agreed to reduce the amount of money spent on books next year from £750,000 to £470,000.

The decision, made at a meeting on October 16, will affect the county's 34 libraries, and has raised concerns about what will happen to the smaller venues and to staff.

Mr Plaskitt is worried for the future of Whitnash and Lillington libraries. He said: "I am anxious that people know what the county council is up to. My constituents in Whitnash and Lillington need to know what is going on and they need to express to the council their views."

He also voiced his disapproval of the council's decision to lower the book-buying budget. He said: "It's outrageous. If you are not stocking libraries with books, you are cutting off their blood supply - it's a slow death. They start off by saying it is temporary, but there are a lot of fuzzy words in this document, so I am suspicious."

But Graeme Betts, the county council's strategic director for adult, health and community services, insists that any changes made will improve the system as it currently stands.

He said: "For every service in the county, we have to ensure that we are living within our means. This year we are taking a third from the book-buying budget. It is a one-off. We regret it but it will mean things can improve for next year.

"The service was maybe fit for purpose about 30 years ago, but it is not for the future. Last week's meeting was not about closures at all. It was about ensuring that there is an excellent service for the community."

He said a consultation exercise, due to start next month, would include public service providers such as community centres, police and primary schools, as well as library customers.

He added: "All the signs show that the current service is in decline and we have to do something about that."

Other possible changes include:
- Mobile counters set up in supermarkets, primary schools, health centres, youth and community centres and leisure facilities
- Self-service electronic terminals set up in the larger libraries so that customers no longer need assistance with borrowing and returning items
- New £1 an hour internet charges, with exemptions for pupils, university students and people on benefits
- A more in-depth internet service, including 'e-books', learning packages, music downloads, homework support and an enquiry and ordering service, with opportunities for book deliveries
- Budgets and services being shared with Coventry and Solihull city councils

What do you think? Contact the newsdesk on 457737 or email news@leamingtoncourier.co.uk
Here are the views of some Courier readers:

"Disabled people are already among the most disadvantaged in society and it is most important that neither financial nor access hurdles are put in our way. In particular the excellently modified computers in the Leamington library are regularly used by me and other visually impaired people, and are the only secure and affordable way for blind people to access the internet in our town.

"It would go contrary to Warwickshire County Council's objectives of social inclusion if blind people were driven away from the service by the introduction of charges.

"I have become aware that library staff have been told not to discuss this matter with the public or media. This is unacceptable. I will ask any question I like of any public servant and I will expect a full and truthful response to the best of their ability."

Ian Foulds.


"It should be possible to absorb a ten percent cut in the budget for the Warwickshire public library service without any cut in the book fund, any library closures or any other visible effect on the service to the public. Careful analysis of the detail of the budget can show how this can be achieved."

Tim Coates.


"I am horrified at yet more cuts to library services. The book fund has already been reduced by over 30 per cent in recent years and charges have either been introduced or increased. You are no longer able to request a book that is not already in stock without an additional payment on top of the present £1.

"Staff at local libraries are demoralised by being treated as second-class with the introduction of the new 'one stop shops'. The new staff, employed by Warwick District Council I believe, are being given facilities that existing staff have never seen.

"If local libraries are closed the use of the remaining ones will decline drastically as people will be unable to afford the costs of travelling into a nearby town and the additional costs of parking when they get there."

Roy Howard, Lillington.