Newton Abbot Library could be in line for a £2 million windfall after Devon County Council decided to put all its lottery eggs into one historic basket.
The county council has decided to make the historic listed building the subject of its one and only bid to the Big Lottery Fund which hands out grants of up to £2 million.
Lottery rules allow the council to make just a single bid and head of communications, Peter Doyle, said the Newton Abbot service had the best chance of fending off competition from elsewhere.
If successful the cash will be used to open up more of the ground floor to the public and improve facilities for the Railway Studies Library. Residents in Kingsteignton are also celebrating after hearing that their library has escaped closure although the outlook in Kingskerswell and Shaldon is less rosy.
The worst news is reserved for Ipplepen, where the service will close its doors for good on December 15..