Today, this newspaper launches one of the biggest campaigns in its history. Backing readers to the hilt, we are telling Devon County Council: Keep Our Libraries an Open Book. We are pledging our readers – thousands of whom are furious at plans by the council to close 12 libraries – that we will do our best to carry the fight for them. In Teignbridge, the libraries at risk are Kingskerswell, Kingsteignton, Ipplepen and Shaldon. And on Monday, the county – rocked by the forces of opposition it has encountered – is to start a series of consultations in all the affected communities. And it is this consultation process which we will do our best – along with YOU, the reader – to ensure, as the county says it will be – honest, open and meaningful. Petitions have been started and hundreds of strongly-worded letters of protest have swamped County Hall since the announcement in January that the libraries were planned to be closed in order to centralise services. It means, for example, that kingsteignton library users would travel to Newton Abbot to loan books instead. No, you said. No, we say. No, says new children's author Steve Voake, pictured right. That's why we want to Keep Our Libraries an Open Book. JUST SAY NO.
