NO library in Devon will close as a result of cut in the money allocated by government grant, says Devon County Council.

But the council now wants to know how residents will use libraries in the future in a bid to maximise access to the service across all 50 of its branches.

An extensive public consultation starting this week will ask residents how and when they use libraries and what ideas they have to ensure the buildings could be better used by communities for other purposes.

The council wants to match local opening hours to demand, to ensure that areas of similar populations have more equal service and to make sure resources are focused on busier times so people can access services when they need them most.

People will also be asked how they think communities could better support libraries, and their ideas on how they could be better used by communities for other purposes in order to make full use of the buildings.

Devon County Councillor Stuart Barker, cabinet member with responsibility for libraries, has also extended an open invitation to library friends groups across Devon to encourage local people to respond to the consultation and to make suggestions about how they can support their local library.

He said: 'Despite unprecedented cuts in budget no libraries in Devon will be closed and by maintaining the current network across the County  we want to ensure that as many people as possible have access to a permanent or mobile library.

'This consultation is about how and when people want to use libraries in the future and how we can develop them to offer more services, not about closures.  By sharing costs with other services we can make better use of available resources.

'The results of this public consultation are an important next stage in modernising the service and in ensuring libraries reflect what local communities need and where appropriate we use the buildings for other purposes.'

The public consultation will take place throughout April. Surveys will be available in all of the county's libraries and can be completed online at http://www.devon.gov.uk/libraries">www.devon.gov.uk/libraries

People can also send comments to or call 0845 155 1001. Surveys should be returned to any Devon Library by May 7, or sent to Devon Libraries, Devon County Council, Great Moor House, Bittern Road, Sowton, Exeter, EX2 7NL.