“I believe you can do that online these days,” Richard said.
“But I don’t know how to use a computer.”
“Well, I’m sure you can do it over the phone.”
“But it’s one of those automated systems and I always press the wrong buttons. That’s why I get June to do it for me at the library.”
June cringed at the mention of her name, but no one even glanced at her.
“Well, perhaps you can get a friend to help you?” Richard said.
Vera sat down with a scowl, and June felt a pang of sympathy for her. She was pretty sure the old woman didn’t have any friends she could ask for help.
“Next question,” Brian said, nodding toward Jackson.
“I’m Jackson Fletcher. I’m homeschooled and I go to the library every day. Where can I go if it closes?”
Sarah composed her face into an understanding expression. “Hello, Jackson. We take the welfare of all children in the countyvery seriously, so as part of our consultation we’ll be looking at availability of facilities for families. I believe there’s a children’s center in Winton, attached to the library there?”
“But that’s miles away and my parents don’t have a car. They’re bad for the environment.”
“You could always take the bus?”
“But Dad says they’re too expensive.”
“Well, maybe your parents should consider enrolling you in a local school, like other children your age?”
Beside him, Linda was rising. “Now, hang on a second—”
“Time for the next question,” Brian interrupted. “Yes, you, Mr.Phelps.”
“Good evening, madam, sirs,” Stanley said, standing up. “I just wanted to say that I think what you’re doing is absolutely criminal.”
June saw the smile on Sarah’s face flicker.
“You have been running this library down for years. I’m in there every day and I’ve seen it with my own eyes: you’ve cut the opening hours, reduced the number of books on the shelves, let the building fall into a state of disrepair. So, yes, the library might be struggling, but that’s entirely your fault.”
“We’ve been dealing with budgetary issues and—”
“Madam, I have not finished speaking,” Stanley said, and Sarah went quiet. “The council are destroying this village. You’re reducing bus services, selling off greenbelt land to those awful property developers who harass local residents, and now you’re going after our library. What will be left of Chalcot when you’re done?”
“I assure you we have the best interests of all local communities at heart,” Sarah said. “But we have to be realistic. The council need to save money.”
“Right, time to move on,” Brian said.
The Mills & Boon mum from the Children’s Room got up, consulting a notepad. “Is this even legal? I’ve been doing some research, and don’t the council have a duty to provide library services under the 1964 Public Libraries and Museums Act?”
“You’re right—the council does have a statutory duty to provide library services,” Sarah said, picking her words with obvious care. “But the law doesn’t define the exact requirements of this duty. Many communities find a mobile library service a valuable resource.”
Mrs.Bransworth was straining in her seat, looking like she was about to explode. Brian sighed and nodded toward her.
“Well, I think this is a load of fucking bollocks.”
“Language, please!” Brian said.
“I’ve been fighting injustice my whole my life. I was at Greenham Common in the eighties, I went to support the miners in Wales, and I know a setup when I see one. This whole consultation is a sham. You’ve made it clear that the council don’t want to fund the library, so why are you pretending that we have any say in the matter?”
“I can promise you that we’ve not made any decisions yet on the future of these libraries,” Richard said. “That’s why we’re employing management consultants, and it’s why we’re keen to hear what you all think. We’ll only make a decision once the consultation period is over, at the full council meeting on the twenty-fourth of September.”