YOUR library needs you.

That’s the call from campaigners in Sturminster Newton bidding to save their library from a Dorset County Council closure programme.

More than 100 people met recently at the town’s Exchange arts centre and agreed to form a “friends” group of library supporters.

Dorset County Council has proposed withdrawing funding from 20 of the county’s 34 libraries in a bid to save £800,000 a year from 2012.

Sturminster Newton and Stalbridge libraries are among those threatened.

Town councillor Joe Rose, who was nominated acting chairman of the newly-formed Friends of Sturminster Library group, said the purpose of its inaugural meeting would be to “plan a campaign to save the library”.

He added: “Like all rural services, the library is vital to those who use it. The crunch question will be, ‘Do we retain it in its current location?’ “It’s a 1960s, flat-roofed building, which you could argue is a liability. The Exchange is one option: it’s in the centre of town and has good access.

“But there’s a lot of negotiation between now and then.” A provisional date of April 14 has been earmarked for the group’s first meeting at the Exchange.

Meanwhile, plans to save neighbouring Stalbridge library from closure now include extending the building to create a community hub.

Tim Lee, the chairman of the Friends of Stalbridge Library, said relocating the town’s community office would allow volunteers for both services to run the library – and said the move might allow the library to extend its hours.

A consultation on proposals to withdraw funding and offer libraries for community takeover ends in May. A meeting of all county councillors will vote on the proposals in July.