Aberdeenshire communities have been left shocked and outraged after news broke of the council’s plans to shutter 13 libraries by the end of the year.
In a statement, Live Life Aberdeenshire (LLA), which delivers sports and culture services for the council, said:
“A decision has been taken to end the use of 13 library buildings by the end of the year.”
LLA cites “lower numbers of users over the years […] or where the buildings are simply no longer suitable for ongoing provision” as the reasoning behind the closures.
Aberdeenshire Council’s Director of Education & Children’s Service, Laurence Findlay, said:
“The fact is we cannot fund our full estate in the light of changing customer habits and falling footfall.”
The libraries slated for closure are Balmedie, Boddam, Cairnbulg, Cruden Bay, Insch, Inverbervie, Kintore, Macduff, New Pitsligo, Newmachar, Newtonhill, Rosehearty and Strichen.
The news came as a shock and resulted in backlash from affected communities, who said there had been no consultation before the decision had been made to remove an ‘irreplaceable’ service.
Kirsty Edwards, the organiser of an online petition to save Insch Community Library said:
“We were all completely blindsided as there has been no consultation. Me, my daughter, our friends and family all use this library and when we found out it was going to be closing, it was really upsetting.”
A spokesperson for Aberdeenshire Council told The Gaudie:
“It’s a rolling programme of community engagement, so some have yet to have the opportunity to share their views.”
Scottish Lib Dems Councillor Sarah Dickinson, Chair of the Kincardine and Mearns Area committee, confirmed “the updated list [of libraries] was leaked to the press.”
The leak revealed a lack of due diligence according to another member of the Kincardine and Mearns Area committee, SNP Councillor Dawn Black:
“The way that matters around some libraries have been handled is deeply disappointing. Due process does not appear to have been taken on any closures.”
“Not all local councillors had the opportunity to have discussions with officers on what are vital community assets and hubs. I believe that governance has not been followed as no committee has agreed to these actions.”
Amidst the uproar, the council expressed regret at the way news of the plans broke, with Mr Findlay stating:
“Over the past year, we’ve had an ongoing programme of engagement with communities to help shape the future delivery of local library services.
We do accept that for those communities who have not yet had the chance to discuss their local library services this news has caused concern, and for that we apologise.”
Mr Findlay asserted:
“As soon as possible and by the end of the financial year we will be looking to end the use of a number of our library buildings.”
He also noted the council’s intentions to make the library buildings “available for other possible uses.”
The affected communities were determined to make their voices heard, with several online petitions quickly garnering support, and campaigners rallying in the snow at Insch Library.
According to the Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation 2020, all the libraries at risk rank low in the geographic access domain – these communities’ access to basic services is limited.
According to the Scottish Library and Information Council, 27,000 people from rural and coastal communities will lose access to their local library if these cuts go ahead.
Ultimately, the fate of these libraries is still to be decided. The plans for the library closures will have to go through the relevant area committee for discussion, with Aberdeenshire Council’s Communities Committee making the final decision.
This comes following the closure of six libraries by Aberdeen City Council last year in a round of ‘brutal’ budget cuts; also, to a great deal of outrage and prompting the creation of the “Save Aberdeen Libraries” campaign.
