BUNGAY people are being urged to go to the town’s library tomorrow to back the growing call for it to be kept open.

Campaigners are to hold a read-in between 10am and noon and want people to go along to read, take out books, use the computer facilities or just browse to show the strength of feeling in Bungay.

Tomorrow has been designated Save Our Libraries Day throughout the country.

Suffolk County Council, which is proposing to either close or hand 29 libraries over to their communities, will make a decision before April after seeking responses from those affected.

Groups which regularly use the library, including the Bungay Good Read Group, the Big Read and Home Library Service, Machine Sewing Group, Community Garden co-ordinator Nick Watts and Sustainable Bungay, are among those supporting the calls and others are adding their support as the days go by.

Meanwhile Bungay Town Council is planning a special meeting to discuss its response to the threat to the library, which campaigners claim is vital not just to people who enjoy reading, but also educationally and socially, particularly for those with limited means. It is used by every age group.

Josiah Meldrum, of Sustainable Bungay, said: “Obviously this national day of action now has particular resonance in Bungay and many other Suffolk communities. After discussions with a few of the groups that use the library and with the librarians themselves it has been decided that we should organise a “read-in” to demonstrate support for our library and the fantastic job our professional librarians do.”

Waveney MP Peter Aldous, Waveney district councillors John Groom and Simon Woods and Bungay’s county councillor David Ritchie have been approached for their support.

“I’ve absolutely no doubt that all four are as concerned about the threat to Bungay library as we are, and it would be fantastic if they were able to come and see just how much we value our library,” Mr Meldrum said.

The library in Wharton Street was opened 19 years ago on the site of the former Trinity Rooms with local benefactress Kathleen Bowerbank, who died four years ago, contributing �150,000 to the cost to ensure that the project went ahead.