THE fight to save Kingsteignton Library from the threat of closure has won the backing of Teignbridge Council chief executive Nicola Bulbeck. She has written to Lynn Osborne, Devon County Council's head of library and information services, and referred to the district authority's response to the county council's consultation on the proposed closure of libraries within Teignbridge. In the letter, Mrs Bulbeck says though she entirely endorses and appreciates the need to provide efficient and cost effective services, local libraries provide a local service that is valued by many as an essential asset to any community. 'In harmony with the current national focus on people and place, I hope you would agree that we should all strive to retain local services, especially those used by all ages and sections of a community,' she wrote. And Mrs Bulbeck said she wanted to endorse the following observations: l Libraries are a vital part of our society and a very real lifeline, especially for the elderly. l As you will appreciate, libraries in Teignbridge act as meeting places, social hubs, information points for details of local amenities and services and provide IT centres with access to the internet. Oh and they have collections of books, too! 'Many citizens rely on reading lots of books for their entertainment, especially if not very mobile or living alone. 'Significant difficulty would be occasioned by the need both to travel any distance to obtain books, and then to have to carry several by public transport. l There is a high proportion of elderly and other residents in Kingsteignton, who are not very mobile and/or have difficulties, who rely on carers to collect and return library books. l The number of registered library users at a particular library presents only a partial picture in that it does not include other local people who use libraries as centres of information or for other services. l If the library closed, Kingsteignton would lose its access to computers and the internet – a vital access for those who do not have alternative access to ICT, e.g. the elderly and many families with competing budget priorities. Mrs Bulbeck said she was not clear how the closure of Kingsteignton library would improve the customer focus, especially when the thrust of the government's plan is for sustainable communities. 'I should be grateful if you would take these comments into account during the decision making process,' she wrote.
