From Janet Kipling, Exeter 383654, November 28, 2006

PLANS to create community partnerships to help with the running of smaller libraries around Devon were approved by the County Council's Executive today.

Members approved the report 'Improving the Devon Library Service' by Edward Chorlton, Devon's Director of Environment, Economy and Culture, which considered the future of 12 Devon libraries 'at risk' for reasons such as declining usage, location and the poor condition of some buildings.

Seven libraries - Appledore, Colyton, Kingskerswell, Kingsteignton, Pinhoe, Shaldon and Stoke Fleming - will continue from their existing buildings although in some cases this will only be temporary to allow local communities more time to present viable proposals or review other options.

The existing buildings currently occupied by four libraries - Bideford Geneva, Ipplepen, Kingswear and Sidmouth Primley - will be vacated and the services will be provided to the communities in new ways.

Heavitree, where the old library building has already closed to make way for the new St Michael's CofE Primary School, will be given a new stopping place at the school for the replacement mobile library service. The potential for holding library outreach events for local children in the school's community room will also be explored.

The report incorporated the findings from the biggest public consultation ever undertaken about the library service in Devon which drew over 5,600 individual responses from Devon people.

Members at the meeting also agreed to:

• Put in a major bid to the Big Lottery Fund to finance improvements and expansion of Newton Abbot library.
• Confirm as priorities new libraries for Ivybridge, Ottery St Mary and South Molton, where funding has already been approved.
• Seeking external funding and partnership support to replace Exeter Central Library and ageing libraries in towns across Devon - adding to the recent new libraries opened at Dartmouth, Tavistock, Tiverton and Torrington.
• The introduction of self issue technology allowing readers to take out books themselves and therefore extending the service's use outside normal opening hours.
• Increased weekend, evening and lunchtime services, outreach services to take library services into communities and groups who do not currently use them, and the joint provision of libraries with schools.
• A review of the mobile library service to improve its coverage of disadvantaged and more remote communities.
• Development of a greater range of online reference resources for all library users.

Executive Member for Culture Councillor Sheila Hobden, said: "This consultation has been an interesting, demanding and worthwhile process. People entered into it in a very constructive way. We have listened very carefully to what people said. We now want to move forward and make improvements. There is still a lot of work to do. But the library service in Devon will be all the better for it."

• Appledore. It was agreed to retain the service in the existing library building and work closely with the active local community group to maintain and improve the services. It's recommended that responsibility of the Appledore library building be transferred to the local 'Friends' group.

• Colyton. It was agreed to retain the service in the existing library building and invite the local Library Action Group to consult residents about their proposals to change the library opening hours with the aim of improving usage. The report says the Group should further explore their vision for extending the building to create a local cultural centre with a view to the community raising funds for the building or seeking a suitable alternative.

• Bideford Geneva. It was agreed to withdraw the service, which has one of the lowest levels of public use in the county and is less than a mile from Bideford's main library, by July 2007 and for the County Council to work with the College and local schools to develop outreach library services for children across the town.

• Ipplepen. It was agreed that the service moves out of its leased HORSA hut, which is in poor structural condition, on December 15 and is replaced with a new mobile library service from January 2007 at a location to be agreed with the Parish Council, as part of a wider discussion about library issues. It is also recommended that a service to housebound library users be provided via the WRVS where possible and that talks are held with the Primary School to enhance outreach work with local children.

• Kingskerswell. It was agreed to retain the service in the existing library building and invite the Action Group to develop the community views on the future of the library. Protocols will be drawn up to agree what practical support the Action Group and the Library Users Club Kingskerswell will give to improving the library in future. The Library will be retained to give time for the ideas to be formally proposed. The use of the library will be monitored. The situation will be reviewed in June, 2007.

• Kingsteignton. It was agreed to retain the service in the existing library building subject to a Local Development Framework being agreed which proposes a high level of new housing for the community; and contributions coming from housing developers to pay for replacing the library in a better location.

• Kingswear. It was agreed that the service will vacate the building at the end of March 2007, as Kingswear has the lowest usage of any library in Devon and the leased building has no access for the disabled. It will be replaced with a new mobile library service at a location to be agreed with the Parish Council. Staff from Kingswear would be transferred to help meet increased demand in Dartmouth and the books and computers relocated to other Devon libraries.

• Pinhoe. It was agreed to retain the existing library building pending an examination of the overall library service across Exeter especially in deprived areas, explore suggested improvements with the local 'Friends' group and review the position in June, 2007.

• Shaldon. It was agreed to retain the existing library building until June 2007 to allow time for the Parish Council and local groups to clarify suggestions for an alternative location for the library. It's recommended that the potential for providing a mobile service is explored and that savings from closing the existing library building be reinvested in improved opening hours at Teignmouth library, and/or local outreach services, and improving other Devon libraries.

• Sidmouth Primley. It was agreed to withdraw the service, which is based in Sidmouth Community College just 1.2 miles from Sidmouth's main library, by July 2007. Opening hours are to be enhanced at the main town library and talks are held with the Community College to help organise library outreach services for children across the town.

• Stoke Fleming. It was agreed to invite User Group and the Village Hall Committee to discuss their ideas over the running of the library in partnership with the County Council. If no agreement is reached, it is recommended that a mobile library service be provided for the village in consultation with the Parish Council, and the existing library be closed.

NOTES TO NEWS EDITORS:

A copy of the full report and consultation findings is available at:

http://www.devon.gov.uk/index/democracycommunities/decision_making/cma/index_exc.htm

For further information or help with interviews please call the Devon County Council News Service on 01392 383654 or 380101.