It's not just shops and post offices that are at risk in rural areas - libraries are, too, according to the Lib Dems.
Talking of the Lib Dems and village services, rural pubs might have found their takings down, too, since their ex-leader Charles Kennedy quit the booze!
A few years back, incidentally, I spent a day travelling round rural west Kent with one of the County Council's mobile libraries. The article I wrote about my experience is below.
"It's just like a static library - but on wheels," says Julie Keys.
She's describing the role of her mobile library - one of 11 run by Kent County Council.
This one travels round the villages in the west of the county, she explains as she chats to customers, answers their queries and stamps out books. "We are a community service - we are here for everyone and we aim to reach the unreachable."
The 27ft vehicle is deftly manoeuvred around the countryside - including along some tiny lanes - by driver and library assistant Mick Austin.
Ex-fireman Mick, like Julie, is popular with the readers and also enjoys his work. "No two days are the same," he says.
It's got about 2000 books on board, with another 2500 taken out at any one time. There's something for everyone but biography and autobiography, local history and rural-themed books are particularly popular. There are children's books and, for the visually impaired, large print ones and spoken word cassettes. On board, there are also information leaflets and even jigsaws.
"It's all about listening to your customers," says Julie, who constantly tailors her shelves to meet demands. One lady, for example, asked for books in French; Julie obliged. "I find this job very rewarding," says Julie, who's been on the round for four-and-a-half years, and in the department for 20 years. "I think I've got one of the loveliest jobs in the library service."
According to Julie, the image of the librarian is changing. No longer is it a "tweed suit and stuffy" one. "We want people to come in, to feel that they are welcome. A lot of them are more like friends. "We try to make it a friendly place for people to come to, with a nice atmosphere."
The mobile library also acts as a "focal point", filling, in some ways, a gap left behind when a village shop closes.
"People say that they only see each other when the library turns up," says Julie. "I certainly get to hear all the village news."
One of this van's regular customers is Pam Kitcatt, who declares it an "extremely valuable" service. "An absolute lifeline for older members of the village," says Pam, who's seen the availability of services dwindle dramatically over the 41 year she's lived in Halstead. She knows, too, that rural libraries in some areas can "struggle". "All the more reason to support them. If we don't use them, we'll lose them."
Another customer, Sandra Mitchell, stresses the "convenience" factor. "It's just a walk up the road - and so friendly," she says. "We have been coming here for over 10 years."
The library currently has videos (some customers only come on board for them), but Julie would also like to see DVDs, CDs and computer games introduced. "If you don't keep up with what your customers want, you'll lose them."
Such a move could, she says, encourage youngsters to use the facility, prompting them to become more interested in books. "I really believe we should be encouraging people to read from an early age."
This is a sentiment with which another customer, Gaynor Stevenson, agrees. "Rural libraries are very important. They encourage people to read and this helps them keep in touch. A lot of young people don't get time to read, but children should be reading. There's a whole generation growing up now which hasn't read. Books stimulate the imagination."
Pam Kitcatt is surely a made up name...?