LIBRARIES across the South Hams could be franchised out to an independent operation in the latest county council move to save cash. Hundreds of staff working at all 50 Devon libraries could end up working for a community owned 'mutual' not for profit body which would run the library service instead of the county council.

Devon County Coun­cil would commission the service while the mutual would have access to vital extra funding not available to the county council.

The county said that as well as the considerable budget savings, creating a new independent organisation would also mean that communities have a greater say in how their local library is run – which could involve moving their library to an alternative community location to enable it to be open for longer and reduce the building's running costs, using volunteers to extend core library opening hours, using under-utilised space in the library, or using the library out of core opening hours to generate additional income and increase community use of the building or incorporating other services or facilities into the existing library in order to reduce the overall running costs. The county council said this week that it is moving forward with its plans to set up a new independent organisation to operate the libraries.

Roger Croad, Devon County Council's cabinet councillor with responsibility for the library service, said: 'Creating a new independent organisation to run our library service will ensure it remains the dynamic and vibrant service at the heart of community life that our residents' value so much. 

'Our library service is recognised as one of the most innovative in the country, providing services that support health and wellbeing, children's attainment and economic growth in the county. 

'This plan builds on our recent successes and gives the library service the opportunity to grow rather than contract at a time of significant austerity.' This latest move to find alternative ways of running the county library service comes after previous proposals – which would have seen many of the smaller, less used libraries faced with becoming community staffed – were scrapped following major protests from the public.

The county says that an independent organisation would have greater flexibility and more control over running costs for the service and could access new funding sources un­avail­able to the Council. Libraries would also have a more concentrated focus and greater op­portunities to engage more directly with customers, communities and partners. Mr Croad added: 'We've welcomed support from communities, and come up with a plan that not only secures a strong and sustainable future for the service, but also means communities can be much more actively involved in their local library by supporting and improving the services they offer.

'I'm encouraged by the success of the ongoing community pilot programme that is underway and already beginning to show the benefits of greater community involvement in the library service.

'By working together we can achieve the modern, high quality library service that meets the needs of the local community.

'We've got a lot more work to do over coming months, and we look forward to engaging with library customers and communities as the planning for this new organisation moves forward.'