By how much had library visits fallen over four years?

When Marston Council announced in January that the town library would close in March, few people expected a fight. Library visits had fallen by a fifth in four years, and the building needed £300,000 of repairs. Yet within a week, 2,400 residents had signed a petition, and a group of volunteers calling themselves the Book Rescue Team had begun meeting every Saturday morning. 'It is not only about books,' said retired teacher Mr Okafor. 'It is where children do their homework when there is no quiet room at home, and where lonely people find someone to talk to.' By June, the volunteers had raised £48,000 through cake sales and a sponsored read-a-thon, and the council agreed to a compromise: the library would stay open three days a week, run jointly by staff and volunteers. Critics say this is only a short-term fix. Councillor Hale admitted that 'the long-term future is still unclear', but the Book Rescue Team insists the campaign has already proved something. 'People care,' said Mr Okafor, 'far more than the visit figures suggested.'

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By how much had library visits fallen over four years?

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