BOOK lovers on a massive housing estate are to have their integrity and trustworthiness put to the test.
They will soon be using the first community library of its kind in Warwickshire and one of only a handful in Britain.
Bedworth Heath Community Centre is to break new ground as the home of the first `Honesty Library' in the county.
A stock of 1,500 books will be placed on shelves in the community centre in Smorrall Lane, Bedworth, but there will be no library staff on hand to deal with the borrowers.
They will be trusted to return the books after they have finished reading them so that other people can take them out.
Councillor Colin Hayfield, cabinet member for libraries on the county council, said: "Bedworth Heath `Honesty Library' has the potential to be a very good supplement to Bedworth Library for local people and ensures that they have access to books in their locality."
Cllr Hayfield said there will be a large variety of books to borrow, ranging from adult fiction and non-fiction to children's books, but he warned: "Its success is dependent on its users.
"We would urge residents to use the facility and enjoy the books, but to make sure they are put back so that others can also get the benefit of the wide range that will still be available."
The idea for an `Honesty Library' came from borough councillor Damon Brown, who represents Bedworth Heath at the Town Hall.
Cllr Brown said: "Moving the library to the community centre will place it at the heart of Bedworth Heath and on a site with car parking and a bus stop nearby."
Bedworth Heath Library on the corner of Heath Road and Smarts Road closed on Wednesday and the building is to be sold.
The creation of the `Honesty Library' at Bedworth Heath is part of a cost cutting exercise to slash £2 million, or 30 per cent, from the county council's library and information service budget.
Overall the county council has to make savings of £70 million from its budget over the next three years following a massive reduction in funding from central government.
