A teacher, a GP and a psychologist are among an army of volunteers who will help unleash the full potential of their local library, following a decision by Surrey County Council's Cabinet this week.

Councillors agreed that local people will take over the day to day running of 10 of Surrey's lesser used branches*, giving them the power to increase the services provided. The council will continue to provide the building, stock, computer equipment, free Wi-Fi and everything else associated with a library.

More than 300 volunteers have already undergone training to run their local library and following today's decision, more people will now receive it. Once trained, they'll receive on site advice and support from paid staff who will be at the branches part time.

Helyn Clack, Surrey County Council's Cabinet Member for Community Services and the 2012 Games, said: "We had a choice to make which we had a long and carefully considered debate about. We could maintain the status quo and watch lesser used libraries continue to decline in the coming years, or we could let volunteers help them thrive by tailoring their local branch to meet local needs.

"Volunteers can now take a library that is closed three days a week and open its doors daily. They can cater for the commuter rush, hold evening classes, community events or online author talks to help fulfil a library's potential.

"The way people use libraries is changing. The 10 libraries becoming community partnerships account for just 6% of all library use and have limited opening hours. We've found a way to help smaller libraries thrive as we continue to adapt to the changing demands of library users, who are now using the online library more than three million times a year."

Lee Godfrey of SLAM (Surrey Libraries Action Movement) said: "The Council's library plan removes professional staff from our libraries but saves no money. Given the free choice, Surrey County Council has decided that volunteers working just one or two hours every other week will provide a better service than professional staff that have spent years developing their experience, knowledge and training.

This is an irrational decision driven by ideology alone. Normally, ideological decisions of this kind are hidden under a cloak of "cost savings" but, in this case, the dogma is laid bare.

A mixture of paid staff and volunteers would have allowed all of the benefits of the Community Partnered Library policy but also the stability, sustainability and professionalism of paid staff, and all at the same cost. But I'm afraid to say that the Council are hell bent on their zealous mission and are not in listening mode."

Community groups at the 10 libraries were progressing towards becoming community partnerships before the process was stopped for a judicial review. Following today's decision work can re-commence.

The county council will now contact the community groups to review their state of readiness, with the aim of having all 10 the community partnered libraries running by 2013.