THE final chapter could be near for three libraries in Oldbury as Sandwell Council has to save £700,000 from the libraries budget in the next two years.

The future of Langley, Brandhall and Rounds Green libraries are all in doubt along with Tividale's Oakham and West Bromwich's Hill Top libraries.

A series of public consultation meetings starts next week where the council claim library users will have a say on the fate of the libraries.

Deputy leader of Sandwell Council, Councillor Mahboob Hussain, said: "We have protected frontline services as much as we can and will continue to do so.

"Libraries provide a great service and are popular with local people. In recent years, we have opened new libraries in Blackheath and Oldbury and invested in West Bromwich Central Library.

He said: "However, we have to be realistic - we need to save a further £700,000 from the library budget over the next two years and must look at every option.

"The major costs of the service are staff and buildings, but the closure of any library is an absolute last resort and I am hopeful we can find another way."

Cllr Hussain admitted the only hope for the libraries to stay open will involve major changes to the service now provided.

He added: "There are three main suggestions, including working with volunteers and community partners, moving libraries to shared premises or bringing other services into libraries to reduce running costs, and providing multi-use centres for for local people.

"We will ask people for their views and take a final decision by the end of the year."

Former Independent Socialist Councillor for Langley Mick Davies slammed the council's attitude to libraries.

He said: "The libraries provide services to all members of the community providing for some 'a gateway to a better life'.

"Sadly the ruling clique in Sandwell are averse to anything that can be seen as 'educational' in it's widest sense."

The Brandhall Library public consultation is being held on Friday, October 24 between 5.30pm and 7pm, Rounds Green Library on Monday, November 3, between 4.30pm and 6pm and Langley Library, Tuesday, November 4, between 2.30pm and 4pm.

Copies of the consultation document are available at all Sandwell libraries and on the library website www.sandwell.gov.uk/libraries.