Fife Council Urged To Rethink Plans To Close Libraries

The consultation on the closure of a Fife library may have ended, but the battle to keep it open continues.

The consultation on the closure of a Fife library may have ended, but the battle to keep it open continues.

Campaigners for the facility at Lundin Links say it helps local businesses by bringing people into the town.
 
Fife Council will announce its decision on the fate of Lundin Links library and 15 others run by Fife Cultural Trust on December 8th.
 
On Friday, North East Fife MP Stephen Gethins, Willie Rennie, Mid Scotland and Fife MSP and leader of the Scottish Liberal Democrats, Tricia Marwick, constituency MSP for Mid Fife and Glenrothes and Councillor David Alexander, met with young library users at Lundin Links to get their views on the proposed closure and hear more about the impact any closure will have on the community.
 
Stephen Gethins, who has previously met with the campaign group, said:

 "Libraries, particularly those in rural locations, are vital community hubs and they are too precious to lose.  
 
"By campaigning so passionately to save their library, residents of Lundin Links and Largo have shown just how much it means to them. Indeed, literary links in the area go back to world-famous son Alexander Selkirk being the inspiration for Daniel Defoe's 'Robinson Crusoe. 
 
"We will continue to fight against these plans so that residents don't lose this valuable service."
 
Willie Rennie said:

"I want to show my support to a group of local people who have come together to stand up for the services in their community. 
 
"The clear and powerful support exhibited locally must mean that the Trust and the Council should change their plans to close the Lundin Links Library.  
 
"The library matters to the local community - that must count for something."
 
Jane Campbell, owner of Jane's Gifts and Coffee Shop, said:  "Our library is a vital institution meeting important cultural and social needs of ordinary people of all ages in our community."

'Save Lundin Links Library' campaigners have analysed the information Fife Cultural Trust is using to base its decision and believe that apart from being close to Leven, Lundin Links does not fulfil the criteria that is being applied to the sixteen libraries on the closure list.

New ideas which could be piloted at Lundin Links include: a volunteer network to help arrange junior book groups and Saturday morning openings; visitor information panels in the under-used foyer telling the Robinson Crusoe connections with Largo, and using Facebook to engage the local community.