More than £2 million is to be cut from library services in Lincolnshire.

Book loans to schools will be abolished from April and a number of the county's mobile library stops are under threat.

A budget of £6,279,400 must be slashed to £4.1 million within three years – a total saving of £2,158,800.

The revision of the service is scheduled to happen by 2015 with budget reductions phased in on a yearly basis.

The head of libraries and heritage at Lincolnshire County Council, Jonathan Platt, said: "We have to make changes fast in Lincolnshire because we need to make what is a substantial saving.

"The county council is having to cut its budget by £125 million so it's not just the library service where changes are going to be made."

The schools' library service, which was used by 56 of the county's 353 schools in 2011, will cease to be offered but county council librarians will continue to offer advice.

The schools' library service should cost the county council £8,000 each year, but is forecast to overspend by £37,000 in 2011-12.

Councillor Patricia Bradwell, executive member for children's services, said: "This particular service provided teachers with a box of non-fiction books and other materials to support their lessons. These were renewed three times a year. Unfortunately, a decline in usage means it's no longer sustainable."

The use of mobile libraries, which costs the authority £1.1 million, will be monitored between January and March. If figures continue to dwindle a number of the stops will be axed which could have a knock-on effect on the existence of mobile libraries.

Cherry Willingham Library has already been affected by dwindling visitors and will see its quiet evening hours move to daytime. This move will see the library open on Mondays from 10am to 12pm and 1pm to 5pm rather than 2pm to 7pm from January.

Councillor Eddy Poll, executive member for cultural services, said: "In the current financial climate we need to ensure we only fund services that are wanted by residents.

"We're currently reviewing a number of mobile library stops that are severely underused.

"Over the next three months local communities are being encouraged to use the stops in their area to show they value them.

"If these stops continue to fail to attract customers, they will be discontinued.

"However, existing customers will then be referred to alternative services where possible. For example, some will be eligible for our housebound services."

Outlining his plans at a communities scrutiny committee meeting at Lincolnshire County Council, Mr Platt revealed more volunteers were needed in libraries.

He insisted there were no plans to close static libraries but that opening hours were going to be reviewed in order to maximise usage.