Dungog Council became aware of the closure when they received correspondence from the volunteer who has been running the service on her own for the past eight years.

The library, which provided a limited service and drop off point, operated out of the Paterson Court House Museum for the local community and was open Friday and Saturday from 11am to 12.30pm.

Librarian Michele Ellicott also volunteers at the museum and allowed access to the library during this time also if required.

Shaun Chandler from council’s corporate services department said the museum is seeking the library space to enable a larger museum display and all library stock has already been returned to Dungog Library.

“Usage of the service has been fairly consistent over the last few years with a noticeable decline during the last 12 months,” Mr Chandler said.

“Neither council or Dungog Library has received any community feedback on the Paterson closure.

“The stock from Paterson was returned in September with closure basically effective since then.”

In the 2010-11 financial year 480 books were borrowed and this fell to 353 and 340 the following years and only 171 were borrow in 2013-14.

Cr Robert Booth said he consulted with a number of community members and they knew nothing about the closure.

“I believe we should invite public comment on the closure due to the patronage of the local community,” he said.

“Some people were very surprised it was closed.”

However Cr Glenn Wall said he was against the motion.

“The library has already gone, the books have come back to Dungog Library,” he said.

“Do you want something that doesn’t exist.

“It’s misleading, we’re giving them false hope . . . it’s already gone.”

Cr Harold Johnston said the community has voted with their feet.

“They would have let us know if they had missed it,” he said.

Cr Linda Bowden asked for council officers to find out the cost of a mobile service to visit the area.