Plans for volunteers to run libraries in Surrey have been ruled unlawful by the High Court.
The scheme, proposed by Surrey County Council, would see staff at 10 libraries replaced by a volunteer-led service, which it said was vital to maintaining services across the county.
But campaigners opposed the move, claiming paid staff were more knowledgeable and could provide better assistance to vulnerable users.
Today, Mr Justice Wilkie said the authority "failed to have due regard to the equality issues" of the case.
He will now decide whether to make an order quashing the council's decision at a hearing expected next month.
Surrey County Council said it was pleased Mr Justice Wilkie had not directly criticised the plans, meaning they could still go ahead.
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