YOUR article last week set out the planned future for library buildings in the county.

John Perkins, who last year had organised the 9000+ petition against cuts to the library services, is naturally suspicious of the council’s future intentions but people should be assured that much work is in progress to clarify the future of the county’s libraries.

Since the petition, the Herefordshire Libraries Support Group, which represents the library users across the county, continues to make practical proposals to the council that would improve income and service efficiency, thus enabling the cuts to be reduced.

In the present financial situation we know that cuts have to be made but our objective has always been, and continues to be, to keep these to the absolute minimum while still preserving an effective service.

In December you published our letter to the Leader of the Council which set out our proposals, including the problems that can arise with the excessive use and management of the volunteers.

We are now in discussions with council officers on how these ideas can best be implemented.

The solutions needed for the market towns and for the central county library in Hereford are different but opportunities are emerging which might, if adopted, reduce the effect of the cuts and even improve some library facilities and services.

J B L FAULKNER Chairman, Hereford Library Users Group