DEVON is continuing to lead the way nationally when it comes to library services says the county council.

Recent figures from the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy’s annual library survey showed that the number of libraries across Britain has fallen and visits to libraries are down by 3.9%. In the South West there has been a 1.4% fall in usage in the past year. However, Devon is bucking the trend. Not only has it kept all 50 of the county’s libraries open, but more than three million visits to Devon libraries in 2014/15 ensured a 10% increase across the county. PC and Wi-Fi usage has also increased in Devon’s libraries by 100%.

Exeter Library, which re-opened in 2014 after major refurbishment, is the busiest library in the South West and is in the top 20 in the UK with more than 560,000 visits last year.

Devon County Council’s Cabinet agreed last month that the county’s libraries will be taken over by a public service mutual, Libraries Unlimited, from April 2016.

This, it says, will save the authority £1.5 million, on top of the £3 million saved on the library service budget in the past three years.

Councillor Roger Croad, Devon County Council cabinet member with responsibility for the library service, said: ‘These visitor numbers illustrate the high regard in which Devon’s libraries are held by our local communities.

‘Dedicated staff and volunteers have made it an extremely successful service that is valued and well-loved by residents across the county.’