CAMPAIGNERS hoping to save Dorset’s threatened Libraries remain unconvinced by the offer put forward by Dorset County Council.

With the council currently consulting on proposals to withdraw funding to 20 of its 34 libraries in the county, representatives from the services under threat were invited to a seminar to discuss the terms on which they could take over the running of the libraries.

Chairman of the Friends of Puddletown Library group Mike Chaney, who is also spokesman for the Ad Lib (Association of Dorset Libraries) campaign group, said the offer was outlined to the library supporters and they were asked if they thought it could work.

He said concerns were raised among library representatives that they couldn’t afford to take on the buildings and some lacked willing volunteers.

Mr Chaney added: “It was an interesting and worthwhile discussion but we had no real evidence that the offer made to us back in December is going to be improved.

“The feeling among Ad Lib members is that without a more regularly circulating supply of books and a place for public access computers what we were being offered would not be libraries in any sense of the word.

Mr Chaney said that without a regularly updated supply of books people will soon stop coming to the libraries.

The consultation period runs until the end of May, when the libraries will be expected to signal their interest in taking on the facilities when funding is proposed to stop in April next year.

A recommendation will then be made by the council’s community overview committee in June, which will then go before full council in July.

Paul Leivers, head of community services at Dorset County Council, said: “The public consultation is a crucial step to inform the final proposals.

“We now need to consider the level of support we can provide.

“We understand that every local community is unique, and that one size does not fit all.” Ad Lib has proposed cutting opening hours of all 34 libraries in Dorset by 10 per cent, reducing headquarters staff by the same amount and halving the money spent on books.

Mr Chaney said: “We hope the council will give further consideration to the Ad Lib proposal.”