A CAMPAIGN group is warning people not to celebrate too soon their libraries being saved.

Last Monday, Somerset County Council announced that Ilminster Library was on a provisional list of nine libraries to be saved out of 20 originally under threat.

But Save Somerset Libraries, which describes itself as a ‘coalition of library campaigners’ points out that 11 out of 34 libraries could still be closed.

South Petherton Library is one of those remaining under threat.

Cuts will be shared across the board. A 20% reduction in opening hours will be made across all libraries in Somerset and this will affect Chard and Crewkerne libraries.

Library campaigner Desmond Clarke said: “While I welcome Somerset County Council's revised proposals, I have no doubt that more can and should be done to provide a sustainable library service without closing any libraries.”

Save Somerset Libraries sent a costed proposal to the county council earlier this month. It was designed to allow all Somerset libraries to remain open, with a reduction in services.

The measure would allow the library infrastructure to be built up again when the economy recovers.

One option for threatened libraries such as South Petherton is to adopt the community supported model, taking them outside the county council’s library net work.

This would make the community responsible for staff wages, rent, rates, utilities, other running costs and volunteer training costs.

The county council’s cabinet committee is set to meet tomorrow (Wednesday) to further discuss the future of the county’s library service.