ALTHOUGH Ledbury library has already suffered a reduction in opening hours, readers may not be aware that it is still under threat from the county council cuts.

We do not have a user group or ‘friends’ group at the moment. This means there is no mechanism for the council to consult with library users. In turn, this puts our library at greater risk. Other libraries have started groups, and are encouraging us to do the same.

There are likely to be further cuts to opening hours in the new year. I have advised the service that we are trying to start a user group. Now we need to make that happen.

On Saturday I put a notice in the library asking for volunteers to form such a group. It would need to agree aims but these are likely to be: challenging the cut backs, looking to find ways of raising money by making best use of the library’s assets, finding alternative funding, and looking to see if volunteers could help to extend the opening hours again.

The group could also have a voice in how the library is set up in any move to the Master’s House.

If you value our library, and would be prepared to help form a user group, there is a sheet to sign in the library to give your name and contact details.

Please do this by Saturday, January 4.

NINA SHIELDS Ledbury