Keep Our Libraries an Open Book is the title of the campaign this paper is launching today. The long-awaited consultation process about the proposed closure of 12 Devon libraries kicks off on Monday. County councillors insist that consultation would be honest, open and meaningful – we intend to see that it is. So far, the signs are not promising. Cllr Sheila Hobden, who fronted the initial move to close smaller libraries, sticks remorselessly to her mantra of improvement. She maintains that library provision in Devon is unequal, that libraries exist where historically they always did, but should now be closed, to 'improve' library provision in the county. All Devon's library development is in towns. The eight new builds and refurbishments carried out in the last five years are all urban. The planned spending of £2.1 million on new libraries in South Molton and Ivybridge and the development of the Ottery St Mary library show the same commitment to town libraries. Devon is a rural county. To deprive country and village dwellers of their libraries is not justice. It is definitely not improvement. Residents have mounted some impressive campaigns to keep their libraries open. Thousands of signatures have been collected, hundreds of letters written to county councillors and local MPs, hours have been spent demonstrating outside libraries. Devon County Council has taken its time, hoping, we suspect, that all the fuss will die down and people will conveniently forget the danger of losing their library. It is now up to us to ensure that the Keep Our Library campaign is heard where it will count – by Devon County Council, which will be voting on library closures this autumn. What do libraries mean to you? Your local library is an information source, a social centre, an educational tool for children, an open door to world literature, an entertainment source, a free internet link – a door of opportunity and communication for everyone. If your local library is closed it will never be replaced. Once lost it will be gone for ever. How can we make our voice heard? Attend the consultation sessions at Shaldon, Kingsteignton, Ipplepen and Kingskerswell. All get but one day of 'consultation' – a touring exhibition which explains the benefits of closure sounds anything but open-minded. It seems Cllr Hobden aims to persuade people to her point of view rather than being prepared to listen to their points of view. Talk to Cllr Hobden and librarian Lynn Osborne and make sure they listen to your view that closure is not improvement. Fill in the county council questionnaire with great care, remembering that Cllr Hobden said: 'The OurDevon consultation told us 48 per cent of the public want to see our libraries improved. This initiative [to close 12 libraries] is all about improving our libraries in Devon.' Don't let your words be twisted in this way. You could display our Keep our Libraries an Open Book logo to show your feelings. Join your local library action group (ask at your library about this) and keep lobbying your county councillor – letters, phone calls, emails – anything and everything to swing the councillor's vote firmly against closing your local library. Remember – and join us – Keep Your Library an Open Book.