When the people of Appledore were told in January 2006 that their library was going to be closed down they had two options: roll over meekly and accept Devon County Council's decision or fight.

They chose to fight.

Angry pensioners, unable to travel long distances, demanded action, upset mums and dads worried that their children would be deprived of access to an important area of their education, rejected the idea outright while many youngsters wondered if each visit to the Library would turn out to be their last.

The heart of the community, it seemed, was about to be destroyed. So strong were the objections, backed by local councillors, that the Devon Library Service was forced to announce that there would be a consultation period.

It was from this public declaration of the right to read that the Friends of Appledore Library evolved led by the best-selling children's author Nick Arnold who lives in the village.

Once a committee was organised, there followed a gruelling, innovative 10-month campaign to save the library, wholeheartedly supported by a community already suffering from the collapse of their famous shipyard, the closure of their post office and the loss of their ferry. But, backed by a supportive media, FOAL claimed a marvellous victory on November 28 when it was announced that the Library had been saved. As a direct result the Appledore Book Festival was born - an exciting, new venture that will be centred around the Library and one that will help to finance its running costs, a responsibility which will be taken on by FOAL from this September.

The Appledore Book Festival means much to the resilient people of Appledore. It should secure the Library's future, help to regenerate a wonderful North Devon port with a fascinating history, and also ensure that future generations will be able to enjoy, without threat, that important, but basic, right to read.