DEVON County Council will be consulting over the future use of libraries after it announced that its 50 branches will remain open.

In order to maximise access to the service offered by the libraries, a public consultation next month will ask residents how and when they use libraries and what ideas they have to ensure the buildings could be better used by communities.

The council wants to match local opening hours to demand, to create a more equal service and to make sure resources are focused on busier times so people can access services when they need them most.

Devon county councillor Stuart Barker 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. “Before we make any changes we want to understand how people use our libraries and gather ideas on how to sustain and increase this use within available resources.”

The public consultation will take place throughout April.

Surveys will be available in all of the county’s libraries and can be completed on-line by clicking on the related link.

People can also send comments to librarysurvey@devon.gov.uk or call 08451-551001.

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.