THE Halesowen Library Forum is holding a meeting this weekend to discuss the loss of services at the Cornbow Centre facility.

The group will be meeting on Saturday January 30 between 12.15pm and 1.15pm at the Shenstone Theatre, Halesowen Library.

A spokesman for the forum said: “We want to keep Halesowen Library open and for it to become the hub of the community.

“The Halesowen Library Forum has campaigned to stop further reductions in the library services at Halesowen as library lost two floors were recently lost to Social Services.”

Library users have complained bitterly about the £48,000 revamp to the library by Dudley Council which left fewer services and the reference section radically downsized.

The forum spokesman added: “We aim to support the staff and are trying to find out who makes these erroneous, disgraceful decisions without any consultation.”

“We are looking for answers so please come along and ask any question concerning the library and its facilities.”

The issue of the library has become a political hot potato with the revamp continuously being brought up at the Halesowen Area Committee with library users branding the revamp ‘disastrous’.

The Halesowen Area Committee has ordered council officers to compile a report about the changes to the library after councillors complained they had no idea services would be cut.

Committee chairman and Belle Vale Councillor Bob James said: “Officers are working on a report as we speak and it should be ready for the next meeting.

“It would have been an agenda item this time but the agenda was very busy, I am aware that people are furious about the changes to the library that is why we ordered a report in to the matter in the first place.”

However, Halesowen South Cllr Alan Taylor did offer library users some hope.

He said: “I understand that there have been further changes at the library recently which has improved the situation.

“The reference section will be all in one place and should be as big or as good as beforehand.”