BOOKWORMS in Even Swindon have rejected plans to replace the community’s library with a mobile version.

The alternative library service was mooted at a meeting at Even Swindon Community Centre in Jennings Street on Monday.

Speakers including Alison Gordon, the council’s head of libraries, and Bernie Brennan, director of housing and leisure and comes two months after the council called a consultation into the decision to close Even, Gorse Hill and Old Town libraries.

Residents told the council officers that the mobile library would not have an internet connection, like the current library, and would only remain in the community for about five hours a week.

Members of the audience were also concerned that other communities around Swindon would suffer because the mobile library’s services would be diverted from rural communities.

Councillor Des Moffat (Lab, Western) said: “I think the mobile library plan is just nonsense. It’s a shift to cover the council’s nakedness, it just won’t be viable. The council is being short sighted in this decision.”

Jessica Stagg, an expectant mum of one, who lives five minutes from the library and constantly uses the venue with her son, said losing the library would mean the entire community’s educational facilities would bottom out.

She said: “When the mum and toddlers group meets sometimes the children go missing and we almost inevitably find them in the kids corner of the library reading.

“Losing this facility would be a big blow to my family and the elderly in the community. We are constantly walking to the library and my two-year-old loves books and the library, it would be a tragedy to take that away from him. “The older people in the community also use the library as a lifeline, what would they be expected to do?”

However, Mrs Gordon said no decision has been taken on whether to close the library or not and any ideas on how to save the £100,000 needed to keep the libraries open would be appreciated.

She said: “Our mobile libraries review our routes around Swindon every year.

“We only move away from places when there is no demand for the bus.

“And if the community centre refused their car park we would have to park on a nearby street.”

She added that anyone interested in taking part in the consultation which ends on June 24 is asked to email her on ajordan@swindon.gov.uk.