Council leaders have defended a decision which would see a 120-year-old library building sold, if charities or community groups cannot find a way to take it over.
Described as "Harry Potter meets The Hobbit", the Gothic-style Carnegie Building in King's Lynn is currently home to the town's library but was recently declared surplus to requirements by Norfolk County Council.
But that decision, prompted by the Conservative-controlled council's plan to move the library to a new £14.2m 'community hub', has sparked anger.
The council will offer the property to charity and community groups, which are invited to come up with proposals to lease it or take on the freehold.
But if an agreement cannot be reached, it would be sold.
At a meeting of the council's cross-party scrutiny committee on Wednesday (September 18), independent county councillor Alexandra Kemp, who represents South Lynn and Clenchwarton, said the council had no right to sell it.
She said the building was a gift to the people of King's Lynn by philanthropist Andrew Carnegie.
Ms Kemp said: "Of all the 660 libraries that Andrew Carnegie built, Lynn's is said to be the most beautiful.
"It's a bit like Harry Potter meets The Hobbit. It's something very special."
But County Hall lawyers confirmed it was owned by the county council.
Kay Mason Billig, leader of the council, said the Carnegie was no longer fit for purpose. She added the planned hub, in a former Argos store in the town's Vancouver Quarter shopping centre, would include an improved and accessible library.
Simon Hughes, the council's director of property, said meetings had been held with community groups about taking the Carnegie Building over.
But Ms Kemp said it could prove beyond the means of community groups to take it on and it was "likely" it would be sold to a private company.
However, Mr Hughes said community groups could access funding the council could not.
The scrutiny committee, which could have asked cabinet to reconsider, agreed to note the call-in but not to take any other action.
What is the Carnegie Building?
The Grade II-listed building was built in 1904 and gets its name from Scottish philanthropist Andrew Carnegie, who opened it in May 1905.
It is one of 660 libraries built across the UK and Ireland with his help.
In 1914, and throughout the First World War, the tower was used as an observation point for soldiers tasked to look out for possible invasion and Zeppelin threats.
It was granted listed status in 1982 and is described by Historic England as "Gothic style with Arts and Crafts influence".
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