Aberdeenshire Libraries Saved as Community Groups Step In to Help

Libraries in Aberdeenshire might stay open. Community groups are helping save them. The council wanted to close thirteen libraries. This happened back in November. People were not happy about it.

Residents started petitions to stop closures. Thousands of people signed these petitions. Some protested outside of the libraries. They wanted their local library to stay open. The council held meetings for public input. People could share their views on library services. Plans for each library went to a committee.

Rosehearty library will stay open longer. It will be open ten hours each week. Kintore Library gets fifteen hours a week. The Bettridge Centre library will stay the same. Staff want to improve that library. Insch Library stays in its current building. This is the Institute on Rannes Street. They considered moving it to a center. They decided that the building was best.

Volunteers might help enhance libraries. They could offer Bookbug or other programs. Balmedie, Strichen, and New Pitsligo libraries could stay open. Groups want to take them over from the council. This is a community asset transfer. Cairnbulg may also get this change. The group isn’t ready yet. Transfers could take six to twelve months. The library service would continue as normal. This would happen until the deals are done.

Alternative locations are planned if transfers fail. Boddam library will likely move. The building will be closed completely. The library could move to the Public Hall. Other choices are Boddam School or the Boddam Hub. No group wanted to take over Boddam’s library.

Future talks impact other libraries. This includes Inverbervie and Cruden Bay. Also affected are Newmachar and Macduff libraries. Groups are considering their community’s future. The council wants more time for these talks.

The decision about these libraries comes in June. A councilor is happy Strichen and New Pitsligo stay open. The libraries staying helps the community. Another councilor used Cairnbulg library as a boy. His family still uses the service. It means so much to people there.

One councilor worries it all feels rushed. Communities need more time to decide. He thinks the process is backwards. The committee voted to approve changes. The vote was nine to three.