Cost-cutting plans to move a historic library to a new site have been abandoned following an outcry from residents and civic groups.
Hammersmith and Fulham Council has performed a u-turn on plans to sell off Hammersmith Library and move services into a new development in Beadon Road, and will instead retain the listed building in Shepherd's Bush Road.
The authority also hopes to reach an agreement with community and voluntary groups to take over the running of Barons Court Library in March, when council funding and staff will be withdrawn.
Talks are under way with Avonmore Primary School about transferring responsibility for the Barons Court site, which could be rebranded as the Avonmore Neighbourhood Centre with some space given over the Citizens' Advice Bureau, Ealing Hammersmith and West London College and other local organisations.
Another controversial move to close Sands End Library in Broughton Road is likely to go ahead, with books transferred to a new community facility at Hurlingham and Chelsea School, if the council proceeds with plans to sell the building.
The future of the borough's libraries is laid out in a cabinet report for January 10, when councillors are set to rubber-stamp recommendations drawn up by officers in the wake of a public consultation.
Some 56 per cent of those who responded were against the idea of moving Hammersmith Library, and civic groups like the Hammersmith Society and the Victorian Society objected to the proposals.
Welcoming the decision to keep it, Melanie Whitlock, chair of the Hammersmith Society, said: "It's a lovely building that serves Hammersmith well, and I'm sure changes can be made to to the structure of the old library if needed. It's great if the council have responded to people's comments."
The closure of Barons Court Library was also opposed by 64 per cent of residents.
A council statement said the consultation had made clear that 'there is a body of local people who would like to become more involved with the day-to-day running' of the Barons Court building, and that 'the council hopes to tap into that spirit of volunteering'.
But campaigner Patsy Heavey, of Stonor Road in West Kensington, said: "If they're saying there's going to be a library but they're not going to fund it, I don't know how that is going to work.
"They'll need a lot of do-gooders - I don't know how many people will have that kind of time available, it's not something you can take on lightly."
Removing council involvement in Barons Court library is expected to save around £196,000 per year.
Resident services leader Greg Smith said: "Across the country, local authorities are closing their libraries in order to make ends meet. However, our innovative proposal secures the future of this service while delivering a large cash saving.
"We are delighted that Avonmore Primary School has expressed an interest and are also keen that there are so many forward-thinking, entrepreneurial, community-minded people, keen to take such an active role in the day-today running of their library.
"It really does embody what the Big Society is all about and we look forward to Barons Court Library entering into a new era of stability and prosperity."
The council plans to invest £80,000 in Fulham Library with improved IT, self-service terminals and new furniture, and is in discussions about sharing the building with commercial partners.
The mobile library service will close.
