The Reference library is set to move from New Barnfield, south of Hatfield to the Campus West library in WGC. But lack of space means not all the other collections will continue to be available for the public to browse and borrow.

Malcolm Cowan, Lib Dem county councillor for Handside and Peartree said: ‘While it makes sense not to lavish huge amounts of money on a brand new central resources library, the current proposals will see a reduction of service, with things like the books for lending, the collection of sheet music and playscripts shoved into a warehouse instead of being on display as they are now. Library staff are also concerned whether they will be able to offer the same level of service to enquiries with less space to work in.

‘I have challenged this and got no sensible answer as to why the county council considers it appropriate to spend money relocating when there is insufficient space and items that currently are freely available to the public will be hidden in a warehouse.’