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Graham - it's not hard to save to keep libraries open and the council can reprieve all our libraries now. Even if the cabinet and councillors stubbornly ignore savings inside and outside the library service, their own figures leaked on your blog last month prove libraries can stay open.

The nine libraries and one stop shops set for the chop cost £475,000*. These are likely to include St Ives, Bodmin, Launceston and Wadebridge amongst others.

The six libraries and one stop shops (probably including St Austell, Bude and Falmouth) not yet to be axed cost an additional £1.55 million **. It doesn't take Einstein to see that you can keep these open albeit for a shorter time at a cost of say £1.25 million.

That gives you £350 thousand to keep the nine libraries (Bodmin etc) open for a shorter period of time.

We don't know the costs of the small libraries (like Camelford, St Agnes and Fowey) or the three libraries (like Truro and Penzance) that would stay open if the council are really radical. But it is equally certain that you can spend a little less on the Truros and a little more on the Camelfords.

That’s called being in it together, protecting the vulnerable and serving all our communities. But’s that not what Cornwall Council is all about. Closing libraries appears to be a macho trip. That’s why shutting libraries is radical. That’s why the head of the library service blathers on about services not sites. And of course when has anybody in County Hall ever made Truro suffer a little to provide a lifeline for the smaller communities in East Cornwall. It’s also an outrage that the council appears want to spend money on lending Kindle readers to loan to the better off so they can download e books. It just goes to show that they care more about themselves than our pensioners, our housebound, our children and our disabled.

Tim Coates the inspiration behind the success of Waterstones says that libraries are about the three Bs: books, buildings and being open. Although Tim has missed out the C (computers) and lives in Kilburn he is much more in touch with the needs of Cornish towns than County Hall and most of our councillors. He really is radical and will tell you Cornwall’s Libraries can lose 30% of its budget and give an even better service. His message deserves to be heard before 30 November but it won’t.

* GS Cornwall’s Cuts Budget 19/10/2010
Libraries and One Stop Shops - £475,000 in 2012/13. "This more radical proposal would...reduce the service to nine key locations....Would expect some legal challenges around the 1964 Act, loss of face to face role for Cornwall Council and possible claw back of funds from lottery. Potential for 60 posts made redundant."


** GS Secrets of the Star Chambers 22/10/10
Libraries and One Stop Shops (£1.55m) - "Radical approach to library and OSS provision. This option is in addition to previous options. Leaving only three libraries/OSS centres in east, mid and west and closing all other venues. Increased potential for legal challenge. 100 posts redundant. Impact on People's Network and digitcal exclusion, loss of face to face role for Cornwall Council and possible claw back of funds."

Sorry my arithmetic is either not at it's best this morning or has been overtaken by my passion for libraries. There's a £1.25 m above that should be £1.2 m. It doesn't alter my point but can my blushes be spared?