TWELVE communities across Devon have been chosen to take part in a pioneering new partnership project to test how they can support their local libraries and expand the services they provide.

Devon County Council will work with the dedicated community groups to help shape the new organisation and try out new ways of involving local people so they can have more say on how their library is run.

Those chosen include Ashburton, Bampton, Bovey Tracey, Braunton, Colyton, Dartmouth, Ivybridge, Kingskerswell, Moretonhampstead, Ottery St Mary, Salcombe and Torrington.

Cllr Roger Croad, Devon County Council's Cabinet Member with responsibility for the library service, said: “I am really looking forward to working with these pilot groups to explore and develop their ideas for local solutions to meet their community's needs.

“Their support is vital to the successful future of our library service, and we are pleased to have received so many enthusiastic ideas from every corner of the county and from communities of all shapes and sizes.

“Every community is different, and each will have their own ideas and styles of working so there is much work to be done and the pilot period is undoubtedly going to bring many opportunities, lots of scope for innovation and probably a few challenges.

“Over the next month we will be working with each group to understand what they would like to achieve and what resources they need to enable this to happen.

“We have never been in any doubt that residents value their library service, and as we have shown over the years, we are equally committed to continuing to provide a service that meets their needs.

“The response we had to our public consultation earlier this year was unprecedented, and this pilot again shows that communities clearly share our ambition of making savings, retaining our professional staff and delivering a strong and sustainable model for the future of Devon's library service.”

Devon Voluntary Action (DeVA) will be working with the Council to help support the community groups throughout the pilot project. Programme Manager Karen Nolan said: "This is an exciting opportunity for community groups to get involved in a new way of delivering services.

“They have so much to offer but can't do it alone - throughout this process Devon County Council has consistently demonstrated its commitment to working alongside and supporting these groups and I really hope this will continue to ensure these pilots will have a real impact."

The pilot project, which will run for twelve months, is part of the Council's plans to safeguard the futures of all 50 of its libraries, despite having to make significant savings due to reductions in Government funding.