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Campaigners have slammed the decision to close two thirds of libraries across Suffolk county council as "absolutely appalling".
In one of the most stringent cuts seen to date, the http://www.eadt.co.uk/news/suffolk_two_thirds_of_county_s_libraries_faci... target="_blank" title="East">http://www.eadt.co.uk/news/suffolk_two_thirds_of_county_s_libraries_faci... Anglian Daily Times reports 29 libraries are facing closure as the council tries to save 30% of its £9m library budget over the next three years. It launched a consultation exercise yesterday to find parties willing to come forward and run the threatened libraries.
Judy Terry, county councillor responsible for libraries, said: “We are hoping that people will come forward with their ideas but the fallback position is that if we don’t get those responses, then 29 libraries do have to close.
“As a child I used to spend every Saturday afternoon in my local library right up until my teens, but we do have to be realistic and realise we can’t continue operating on the same basis as we have done in the past.
“We are in a different financial environment and all councils and the government are having to make very significant savings.”
Campaigner Roger Mackay said: “It’s my worst fears confirmed – I think it’s absolutely appalling.
“Libraries are an important part of the fabric of every community and I think it’s devastating that they should say 29 face closure."