A total of 20 volunteers have now expressed an interest in helping to run Highbridge Library from this September when Somerset County Council closes it.
An appeal for volunteers by Burnham and Highbridge Town Council has yielded plenty of support to keep the building in Market Street open.
“We have had a good number of volunteers come forward. If we can agree the funding, it can be saved from closure,” Cllr Peter Burridge-Clayton said at Monday’s town council meeting.
He has proposed that the Town Council considers paying £15,000 a year to keep the libray open, however not all councillors back the plans.
Cllr Ken Smout said: “I am nervous about making a permanent ongoing commitment when we don’t yet know the conditions or attachments to it.”
Cllr Janet Keen added: “If we were to take it on, it would need to be trialled for one year to see whether it is feasable. We would also want to take a close look at the opening hours which currently do not help visitors.”
The Town Council is to meet with Somerset County Council over the coming weeks to discuss how the community-run library would operate.
The possible closure of Highbridge Library is being considered by the County Council as part of its wide-reaching financial cutbacks.
