PROTESTORS angry over the restructuring of Hampshire's library service delivered a 12,000-signature petition to the leader of the county council on Tuesday.

The petition was organised by Unison, the public services trade union, against county plans to axe 27 of 60 librarians and downgrade a further 17, with a pay cut of £4,500, in a £1.2m cost-cutting drive.

The council, which implemented the restructure two months ago, says it needs to make the savings to meet the 2007/08 budget.

In an aim to achieve maximum effect, union representatives laid the petition out on the ground, running from the Hampshire Hog statue, around the courtyard and up to the county council building front doors.

Unison steward and library assistant, Steve Squibbs, said: "The fact that 12,000 Hampshire residents have supported the campaign by signing our petition is evidence that people value what is an excellent public service.

"However, we believe that these latest cuts are short-sighted in the extreme. The knowledge, experience and skills of qualified librarians are being carelessly tossed aside, and remaining staff are being put under unreasonable pressure as a result.

"These cuts have been pushed through against the wishes of thousands of Hampshire residents, but the council should not think we will now stop campaigning for a fully funded public library service that is shaped by the wishes of local communities and responsive to their needs."

After receiving the petition, Cllr Ken Thornber met with union officials.

In a statement, he said: "We do recognise the strength and depth of feeling over the issue of job losses, but the fact remains the library service needs to live within its means.

"We have approached this in a way that is designed to lessen the impact on the public by protecting libraries from closure, by not reducing opening hours and by reducing the need to draw on the book fund."

He said the changes meant clear accountability, shorter communication lines and increased ability to respond to customer needs.

Cllr Thornber said libraries were one of many services that felt the effects of a lack of Government funding.

That was at the same time as an increase in demand for some services, particularly adult social care.

To bridge the gap, the council had to find savings across the board to direct resources to the services under the most pressure.

"No one wants to see huge council tax rises or cuts in services, but the only way to prevent this is for Government to face facts and provide adequate funding to meet the rising costs of providing local services," added Cllr Thornber.

Library staff took strike action earlier this year and more than 200 people went along to a mass "read-out" in Winchester High Street in April to support the campaign against the cuts.