USERS of Okehampton Library are being urged to engage with a public consultation on Devon's libraries before it ends on July 17. The library services of Okehampton, Chagford and Moretonhampstead are all certain to change following a cost cutting consultation by Devon County Council. The ongoing 13-week consultation is exploring proposals to create a network of 22 'Devon Centres' at the county's busiest libraries, which account for nearly 80% of the council's total library usage. It is planned for Okehampton Library to be developed into a 'Devon Centre'. The process would include identifying other services which could share the library space, and where appropriate, staff. The council is also looking to hear from communities to identify how 28 smaller libraries could be sustained in the future. This includes the communities of Chagford and Moretonhampstead. So far, more than two out of every three of the 2,500 people — 67.7% —responding to the council's consultation agree with the proposals for their local library. More than eight out of every ten respondees agree that sharing library space with multiple services — the 'Devon Centre' model proposed for Okehampton Library — is the best way to reduce costs. But with just two weeks left before the council's consultation period ends, the council is keen for more communities to engage, with ideas for how their local library could be sustained. Cllr Roger Croad, the county council's cabinet member with responsibility for the library service, said: 'We've had a lot of really useful and constructive conversations in communities across the county and while the feedback so far has been largely positive, we are not pre-empting the consultation which has a few weeks yet to run. 'It's not surprising that there is a lot of energy and passion from communities who want to prevent any loss or reduction in their library service. 'That goal is shared by the county council, and while we are financially bound by having to make considerable savings to our budget, we will do everything we can with communities to maintain access to their library service. 'Many communities so far are channelling their energy to come up with really useful ideas.  'Some are talking about sharing buildings to reduce costs, while other ideas include bringing in other local community services alongside the library, and about the role that willing volunteers might play. 'With just two weeks left for the consultation, we'd like communities from which we've not yet had engagement, to get in touch.' Last month, Cllr Kevin Ball, the county councillor for Okehampton Rural Division, urged users of the library and people of the town to engage with the consultation to ensure that the county council is aware of the library's importance to the community. In a town council meeting in June, Cllr Ball said: 'Our library is not under threat of closure, but I don't want people to take the library for granted. There have to be savings found so things will change. 'In areas where libraries are clearly under risk of closure, lots of people are vocalising their opinions and stating the importance of their library. In Okehampton, because there is a perception that our library is safe, it is a concern that people are not doing enough to get their voices heard and share their views.' The consultation will run until July 17, and a definitive set of proposals will go before the county council's cabinet in September. Information on the consultation is available at http://www.toughchoices.co.uk">www.toughchoices.co.uk as well as in libraries and through the mobile library service, and ideas and comments can be left at Okehampton Library or e-mailed to [email protected]">[email protected]