CAMPAIGNERS hoping to keep their village library open say its "massive internet capability" could prove crucial in the event of a major disaster.

Silverdale library's supporters say its potential as an emergency communications hub - thanks to one-gigabit broadband - could be "a most exciting development" in their battle against closure.

Lancashire county councillors are to meet this afternoon (Thursday) to decide whether to 'call' in the decision to shut more than 100 buildings, including 32 with libraries, as part of major budget cuts.

Silverdale resident Margaret Mackintosh, a leading light in the Support Silverdale Library campaign group, described it as "a foot in the door". She said villagers hoped to win a reprieve for their much-loved library, thus buying time to explore innovative ideas for the future of the Emesgate Lane property.

As reported in last week's Gazette, the arrival of hyperfast fibre optic in Silverdale - thanks to community project B4RN - means the village library is poised to become the country's first "gigabit library".

Campaigners have formed a new partnership with Silverdale Parish Council to look at the potential for Silverdale library to become "a disaster/emergency/terrorist/nuclear event internet communication centre", thanks to its "massive internet capability".

Mrs Mackintosh said that "gigabit libraries" in America were leading the way in this field, by enabling emergency services could communicate with each other and the media in disaster situations, where existing communications were poor or had broken down.

"The costs are so comparatively small, as are the running costs of this tiny building with only one member of staff, but could be massive and even life-saving for Morecambe Bay," said Mrs Mackintosh.

Seven Lancashire county councillors have asked for the decision to close 100-plus buildings and libraries to be reconsidered as they say it was based on "incorrect financial information".

Among them is Cllr Susie Charles, who represents Lancaster Rural East. She has been asked by a Silverdale resident to speak up for the village library at today's meeting.

Mrs Charles told the Gazette: "When I was a child, every Saturday morning I used to go to the library to get my books. They are not just books now, they are interactive, and I just think libraries are so important to a community."

Silverdale's county councillor is Alycia James, who represents Lancaster Rural North.

Mrs Charles said the Conservatives had "withdrawn the whip" from Cllr James because people had found it "so difficult to get hold of her".