There was a noticeable change in the language over libraries at County Hall from the moment councillors set the budget last month. There was to be consultation, we were told, but it was never really clear how far or deep that consultation would go.

To most observers, the county council was still pressing ahead with its plan to close 20 small libraries in the face of some of the most consistent and fierce opposition it had met in a long time.

That was not surprising. Week after week, the leader of the council Keith Mitchell responded in the columns opposite to those protesting about closure.

His replies were unyielding and he challenged those protesting to come up with alternatives.

This week, his language is entirely different. In a statement, Mr Mitchell talks of a lengthy consultation “library-by-library”, of officers working to “rethink the process” and of him wanting to “see libraries remain open”.

He has even gone so far as to say that keeping all the libraries open is “achievable”.

Saying it is achievable and delivering that aim are two different things. It is clear that Mr Mitchell is still looking for a degree of support from local communities to keep libraries open.

Thus far, local friends’ groups have been reluctant to enter into any discussions with the county council about how they could help to keep local libraries open.

Without professional staff, they argue, it is impossible to see how local libraries can be run at all.

Mr Mitchell’s hardest task will be to persuade these groups that the game has now changed and that the county council is willing to look at different ways of keeping a local library service going with adequate professional support.

His statement goes some way to breaking the ice, but the true test will come when the county publishes its consultation paper.

We all recognise that savings need to be made across council departments, but the consultation paper should start with the question: “How do we maintain a library service in all areas that it exists now within the savings that need to be made?”.

It may mean reduced opening hours and it may mean moving existing facilities into other community buildings. For it to be a success, however, it will require all library services to be fully supported by professional and qualified staff.

Both sides of this debate have spent the last few months in entrenched positions. There is an opportunity and some time now for dialogue over the future of our libraries. That is welcome news indeed.