LIBRARY protesters used World Book Night to launch a petition against council cut-backs.

Kirklees Council wants Denby Dale Library to be run by volunteers from March 2013.

But campaigners claim the idea is unworkable and is the closure of the facility via the back door.

The volunteer plan was thought up by officials at Kirklees amid a £622,000 reduction in its library budget.

The authority earmarked seven small libraries: Golcar, Shepley, Slaithwaite, Lepton, Honley, Kirkheaton and Denby Dale for the change and is currently consulting with residents.

Campaigners from Friends of Denby Dale Library protested outside the library last Monday, as they launched their e-petition against the volunteer plan.

The petition says: “Libraries are too important to rely upon voluntary staff.

“They engage the whole of their local society, forming a hub for community life and enabling lifelong learning.

“If the services of qualified staff are lost it is likely that the professional skills, knowledge and expertise necessary to this role will also be lost and the resulting library service will be sadly diminished and may eventually cease.”

The petition is available via www.kirklees.gov.uk/petitions