RESIDENTS have told councillors that a Worcester library is vital to the community.

The group, called Save St John's Library Services, met at the library in St John's amid fears it will be closed or the service cut.

The meeting was called in response to Worcestershire County Council's consultation on the use of local libraries and ways to make them more cost effective.

Many in attendance said they had been using the library for many years.

Ruth Bennett, 87 said: “I am in my late 80s, I have got heart troubles. I can drive short distances, but I wouldn’t want to drive any longer distances.

"At the Library I can regularly get my books and see my friends.

"We get a lot of lonely people who come in just to enjoy some company.”

Mark Davies, who led the meeting, held last Saturday, said: “I am pessimistic that there will be services that will be cut even if the Library remains open. We need to make sure that there are no jobs lost at all.”

Mr Davies added: “The consultation is not our only means of saving the services. It is a campaign we need to build.”

However, speaking after the meeting, Worcester MP Robin Walker reassured residents that the council may be able to find organisations such as Citizens Advice Bureau to use rooms in the libraries in a bid to keep them open.

He said: “The St John’s library has some excellent facilities. Worcester has some very good libraries and I want to make sure they all stay open.”

“One of the main things they are looking at is is getting other organisations to offer services through the libraries to make more use of the rooms.”

Councillor Lucy Hodgson added: “We have listened as we have reduced the saving required by £200,000.

"Once the consultation ends officers will start talking with partners to look at more local solutions.

"As I said at full council, we are not looking at closing any library.”

The consultation runs until the end of February.

The St John's group has said it will be sending letters to councillors detailing the services they wish to maintain and why they are important.

They will also be encouraging residents in St John’s and surrounding areas to sign letters which will be handed to Mr Walker.

As well as providing a book lending services, the library also lets the public borrow books on tapes and CDs. There is a photocopier, printer and computers that the public can use. Through the website, people can access eBooks and review other items. The library offers adult learning courses through the County Council’s Adult Learning Team.