Rawdon Library could be closed as part of a city-wide reorganisation of services.

But council chiefs are being warned that any closure plan would face stiff opposition locally and they are being urged to think again.

The library, at Micklefield House, is one of 20 to be earmarked for possible closure in a package of measures which would also introduce mobile units.

But the proposals are being opposed by local councillors and by the leader of the Conservative Group on Leeds City Council.

Councillor Graham Latty, Conservative Guiseley & Rawdon, said: “I am determined to get the best deal possible for local residents. I see the library as an important resource for the community and it is not as simple as just replacing it with a mobile service. The library is important because of the services that are there but also because it acts a place where the community can socialise and is a key building within our locality.

“If the new administration in charge of the council decides to go ahead and close Rawdon Library they can rest assured they will face stiff opposition to the plans locally.”

Coun Pat Latty, Conservative Guiseley & Rawdon, said: “It is very disappointing to see our local library jeopardised in this way. While I recognise a consultation process will take place I see no reason at all why this library should be threatened with closure.

“Local libraries provide huge benefits to residents, particularly the elderly, who use local libraries to not only get books but also use IT facilities, I am not convinced a mobile library will provide the same level of service.”

Leeds City Council’s executive board yesterday approved a recommendation to consult on the viability of 20 of the city’s smaller libraries.

Members heard the use of the 20 libraries had dropped significantly over the last 10 years while costs had increased. They were told many people living locally were using other libraries that were open longer and which offered a wider range of services.

A report to members said: “Over the last few years the people of Leeds have changed how they use the service and in 2009/10 out of the four million annual visits, 1.5 million were made to just four libraries and 2.8 million were made to just 13 libraries out of a total of 53. The uses people make of libraries and the times they want access are no longer met by the large number of small libraries with opening hours of less than 18 hours. Maintaining these means valuable resources go into stocking them with materials and repairing and managing buildings.”

The council is looking at replacing smaller poorly used libraries by extending and improving provision in the more popular larger ones.

Under the proposals a number, including Guiseley, Horsforth and Yeadon, are earmarked for longer opening hours.

A report to members says the the proposal would add 41.5 new hours of library provision a week and 106,899 bookable computer sessions a year.

Consultations will now be carried out until December and the results of the consultation combined with the impact of the comprehensive spending review will go back to a later executive board.

Conservative Group Leader, Coun Andrew Carter, said he was worried by the lack of detail in the New Chapter report. “While the financial pressures facing the service are well documented through-out, the true cost benefit of closing 20 of our local libraries is notable by its absence,” he said.