Murdo Fraser MSP is to ask the SNP Government to give councils more money in a bid to keep local libraries open in Perth and Kinross.
This is in the wake of a decision by Perth and Kinross Council to cut the budget given to Culture Perth and Kinross, which has resulted in putting libraries in Dunkeld, Alyth, Auchterarder, Comrie, North Inch, Perth, Coupar Angus and Scone at risk.
Culture Perth and Kinross, which runs the facilities on behalf of the council, is contemplating community-led options and click and collect services as alternative future models in a bid to save money. The body has said Perth and Kinross Council had to rethink the way in which library services are run because people access books and information in new ways.
Commenting, Mr Fraser said: “This controversial issue is something that my office and I have been monitoring closely as I am of the view that our local libraries are crucial to communities in Perth and Kinross. Libraries are so much more than borrowing a book; they are a place to connect, relax, work, and crucially a resource for our younger generations.
“I was unaware, as were many local residents, about the planned closures of the libraries in the Spring. The decision to close the seven libraries in Perth and Kinross was taken due to the extent of the cuts levied on the council by the SNP Government.
“I will be calling the SNP Government out on this issue this week in Parliament via an oral question, in which I will ask the Government to provide more money to local councils to mitigate these cuts, noting that they should be able to do this now that they have been assigned an additional £1.4 billion by the UK Government for this current financial year.
“I support the concerns raised by the Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals Scotland (CILIPS), who have highlighted that some communities could be left without libraries if this move goes ahead. I hope that with the consultation undertaken by Culture Perth and Kinross and enough pressure put on the Scottish Government, a solution can be found to keep our libraries open.”
