Leading Conservative Cllr Richard Roberts has called for all councillors – regardless of political group – to publicly commit to protecting Hertfordshire's libraries from closure.

The county council currently runs a network of 46 libraries, offering a range of services.

And they were the focus of a motion presented to a meeting of the county council on Tuesday (October 21) by Cllr Roberts.

In that motion, Cllr Roberts describes the libraries as "trusted community spaces" that provide digital access, literacy support, activities for children, meeting places and vital services.

And the motion calls on the council to reaffirm its commitment to maintaining all of the county's libraries.

The motion calls for all councillors to support future investment in the library service, so that libraries can thrive for the next 100 years.

And it suggests that in backing the motion, the council would be sending a "clear message to our residents that our libraries are safe, valued and supported for the long term".

The motion was not debated at the meeting of the full council. But it will be considered at a future meeting of the council's resources and performance cabinet panel.

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Nevertheless, following the meeting, Liberal Democrat Cllr Chris Lucas, who is the executive member for resources and performance, said the administration was "incredibly proud" of the library service.

"As an administration, we are incredibly proud of the role our library service to the Hertfordshire community," said Cllr Lucas, in a statement issued to the Local Democracy Reporting Service

"Truly a service that serves and is accessible to all. We are proud of the legacy of the service as we celebrate our centenary year, marking 100 years of inspiring and engaging residents, offering a safe, trusted space at the heart of our towns and villages.

"This year we have seen over 18,000 children and young people take part in our summer reading challenge, seven million visits and over 6.3 million issues of books, eBooks and audio books.

"Hertfordshire libraries, however, have always been about more than books, and as we look to the future, we will continue to innovate and inspire."

But in his response, Cllr Lucas also acknowledged the "difficult financial climate" for local government.

"Local government continues to operate in a difficult financial climate," he said.

"All services across the authority are under constant review to manage budget constraints, with the forthcoming budget ultimately being set next February.

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