AT LEAST 10 of Kent’s libraries were forced to shut their doors to the public today as a result of a one-day strike by staff.

However, the scale of the disruption was not as widespread as had been feared and most of the larger libraries in town centres remained open.

Staff are taking industrial action in protest at Kent County Council’s plans for a re-organisation of libraries which unions fear will downgrade the status of some employees and mean more work for less qualified staff.

The ten libraries KCC said were closed because of the action were: Wye; Wood Avenue (Folkestone); Tenterden; Stanhope; Sandgate; Marden; Lymnge; Headcorn; Coxheath and Cheriton.

KCC said it was possible that services at other libraries were being disrupted but said it moved some staff around to ensure cover was available where it was needed.

Unison said it was aware of a further two - Whitstable and Swalecliffe - had also been forced to shut.

KCC's Kath Anley spoke to KM-fm about the dispute...