A community group has stepped up to keep newspaper copies in the town library. 

The Beaconsfield Community Association has continued to pay for copies of Bucks Free Press and The Week at Beaconsfield Library.

The move comes after Buckinghamshire Council discontinued hardcopies of newspapers and magazines at Council-run libraries following a survey it ran in August last year.

The Council cited an increase in the use of digital newspapers and magazines as a reason for the change. 

However, Beaconsfield Community Association committee member and retired librarian Kari Dorme was “disappointed” with the Council’s decision.

She felt it was done on the sly in the middle of August as most people were on holiday.

Beaconsfield Library was “delighted” after the Association asked if they could pay for the papers, Ms Dorme said. 

“I went into the library, and saw people sitting there and reading.

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“It’s a nice warm space, and a lot of the elderly, me included, we much prefer reading a hard copy,” she added.

The change allows library members to read thousands of articles with wider scope of up-to-date content, international titles and better accessibility tools such as font size control "wherever they are", Buckinghamshire Council's cabinet member for culture and leisure Clive Harriss said. 

"We know that not all residents are comfortable with digital resources, which is why our library staff and volunteers are available to help at any time if needed. We also offer free access to public computers and tablets in our libraries, as well as free WiFi for those who would like to use their own devices. We will also continue to support Library Friends groups and local community associations such as Beaconsfield Community Association, who have been kindly donating newspapers and magazines to their local libraries for residents to access," he added.