HUNDREDS of people have signed a petition to preserve Cardigan Library after the county council revealed plans to make changes in the town.

Although the town's library does not look to be closing, it could relocate to smaller premises at the council’s Morgan Street office in Cardigan, a move that has led to concern that vital services and books could be lost.

The online petition was started by Elaine Evans after she heard the council was to hold a public consultation on the futures of Cardigan and Llandysul libraries.

She said: “I started the petition because I am disappointed that it will be moving to premises that will only hold 50% of the current stock. The council will have to pay to adapt the premises which will cost a lot of money.

“This is the largest library in the county, and I used to work here for 10 years, so I know for a fact that people from all over the county rely on it, and that the premises are on the corner of a very busy road, unsuitable for people with young children.

“There won’t be enough room for the ten computers that the current library holds. This is the only point of social contact many people have and there are free newspapers for job searching there.”

Not only is there an online petition but there’s paper one at the Cardigan Library.

In a report from Ceredigion County Council Cardigan Library has 60,000 visits per year and just under 60,000 loans per year.

The report shows this to be the second most used library in Ceredigion with Aberystwyth coming first.

The online petition started by Elaine has over 700 signatures and is still getting more each day.

There are currently two options decided by Cabinet Members that are out for consultation on Llandysul and Cardigan Library.

Option one is the closure of Llandysul library and reduction of the mobile library fleet by two vehicles (one large and one small vehicle).

Options two is the closure of Llandysul library, the reduction of the mobile library fleet by one vehicle and the relocation of Cardigan library.

Residents of Llandysul are planning to protest this week outside of Penmorfa in Aberaeron against the libraries closure.

The Corporate Resources of the Scrutiny Committee will now give their views as part of the consultation process on Thursday, November 26.

The library service redesign is part of the Council’s attempts to make the massive savings of £25 million over the next three years.