A SPECIAL public meeting has been called to save Botley Library from closure.

The meeting, on Thursday, January 13, has been organised by North Hinksey Parish Council to look at ways to save the Elms Court facility.

It will be chaired by Liberal Democrat county councillor for North Hinksey and Wytham Janet Godden and the speaker will be John Jackson, the county’s director for social and community services.

Mrs Godden, who also sits on North Hinksey Parish Council, said: “I want residents to have the opportunity to ask questions about the reasons behind the closure and what form the promised consultation will take.

“I want to know instances of where community-run libraries have worked.”

Twenty of the county’s 43 libraries, including Botley, are under threat after Oxfordshire County Council announced it would withdraw funding as part of its plan to save £155m over the next four years. County Hall would save £2m by axing library funding and said community groups could take over facilities earmarked for closure.

The plans have sparked protests at several libraries, including Headington and Blackbird Leys, and prominent Oxford authors Philip Pullman and Colin Dexter urged the council to rethink.

The Botley public meeting will be held at Seacourt Hall, Chapel Road, at 7.30pm.