AWARD-WINNING author Yann Martel has described Gloucestershire County Council’s plans to make swingeing cuts to library services in the county as like performing a lobotomy.

Martel, whose novel Life of Pi won the 2002 Man Booker Prize, sent a message of support to Friends of Gloucestershire Libraries, which is fighting the proposed cuts, in which he said: said: “In times of economic duress, the library, free and open to all, where thinking can be done, where plans can be hatched, becomes an essential service, the equivalent to the mind of what the hospital is to the body.

“If a people had the anatomy of a single human figure, than the public library would be the brains of that figure, the place where thoughts, memories and hopes are stored, the place where laughter and new ideas came from. To cut a library system down to its bare bones is then the equivalent of a lobotomy.”

Johanna Anderson, chairman of FoGL, said the the group was “absolutely thrilled” to have received the support of the internationally acclaimed writer.

“To have received the support of such a high profile and literary heavyweight has really spurred us on. Again we ask, when will Gloucestershire County Council listen?,” said Ms Anderson.

GCC is due to decided on the future of the library service at its meeting next week.

Councillor Antonia Noble, GCC cabinet member for libraries, pointed out that the county’s Library Service for Education (LSE) provides books, DVDs, advice and support to many county schools.

“I hope families concerned about proposed changes to libraries around the county will feel reassured that there are still fantastic resources available in their school library,” said Coun Noble.

Schools can buy into the service and currently 145 of the 245 primary schools, 31 out of 41 secondary schools and two out of 12 special schools use it. Other schools, who are not members of LSE, can use services on a pay-as-you-use basis.