Hundreds of people flocked through the doors of Shepton Mallet Library on Saturday for an action-packed morning of activities.

The occasion was Love our Library Day – all part of a chain of events with book lovers showing their support for libraries nationwide and celebrating the libraries saved from closure after campaigns from their communities last year. It was also a time to celebrate the news that from this week libraries are going back to the opening hours they enjoyed before they became threatened with cutbacks and closures.

And more than 250 people of all ages supported the event in Shepton. Spearheaded by FRESH – the Friends of Shepton Mallet Library – the morning gave people the chance to meet local authors Alan Stone, Gill Lindsay, Steve Barlow and Titania Hardy.

Evercreech resident Mrs Lindsay, wife of retired doctor David Lindsay, began her writing career writing books for children. She has had eight books published over 20 years plus numerous articles for country magazines. After reading Lark Rise To Candleford Mrs Lindsay decided to write an article about the author Flora Thompson. When she realised that no one had written her biography she took up the challenge and after four years of research her book about the life of Flora Thompson was published.

Shepton historian and writer Mr Stone led visitors on a guided walk round the town's key points of interest.

There were plenty of activities for the children too with quizzes, face painting, and storytelling.

People queued up to write on red hearts exactly how they felt about their library.

"My library is my lifeline!" "I can't imagine life without books" and "I love my library because it brings the world to me" were just some of the many comments pinned on the walls.

And it was an opportunity for the whole community to say a fond farewell and thank you to librarian Chris King who is retiring after 12 years.

Mrs King who lives in Pilton said she became a member of the relief staff 12 years ago doing one afternoon a month, then took on a permanent post and ended up as assistant-in-charge.

She said she had loved her time at Shepton and paid tribute to all "the lovely staff" she has worked with and all the people young and old who used the library.

Mrs King said she was looking forward to spending more time with her family and in her garden – and she is also a keen orienteer. In fact her passion for the sport plus Shepton Mallet's Slimming World has led her to shed an amazing six-and-a-half stones in a year.

Mrs King said she was sad to be leaving: "But it is a good moment in my life to do so.

"And I will still be on the relief list if they need me. I would not have dreamt of walking away last year when the library's future was so uncertain. I was determined to see it through to a more calmer phase and now seems the right time to go.

"This has been a really lovely day – and the people of Shepton have been absolutely fantastic."