Cambridgeshire County Council have just published their consultation document on public libraries - on the surface it looks a reasonable exercise - but the sting is in the detail. One of the questions asks people if they would rather run libraries with volunteers than with paid staff if it prevented closure. Other options such as cutting central overheads and recharges were not suggested at all.

 http://www.cambridgeshire.gov.uk/leisure/libraries/news/libservicereview/library_service_review.htm

This is a fig-leaf proposed by the County because they have a legal duty to provide a free, efficient and comprehensive library service under the Public Libraries Act (1964).

Two years ago several staffed libraries were replaced by volunteer run "access points" as a cost-cutting measure. but earlier this year the County Council proposed cutting the money allocated to run the existing access points - looking to local communities to make up the shortfall - although they already pay for a library service through the council tax.