The Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals Scotland (CILIPS) has written to every Perth and Kinross councillor stressing deep concern some communities may be left without libraries run by trained professionals.
Due to financial pressures, Culture Perth and Kinross – which runs the libraries on behalf of Perth and Kinross Council – is considering community-led and click and collect services as alternative future options.
CILIPS director Sean McNamara has reminded councillors local authorities “have a legal duty to provide library services that their community needs”.
The letter was issued by the professional body for librarians following the Local Democracy Reporting Service’s recent coverage of library proposals in Perth and Kinross.
On Friday a protest was staged outside Birnam Library by local residents fighting to save their much-loved library from closure. An online petition on change.org has drawn over 500 signatures.
Concerned by the proposals, Mr McNamara has written to Perth and Kinross councillors – on behalf of the professional body for librarians CILIPS – warning full or partial closures of libraries would be “extremely damaging” and could be illegal.
In the letter – shared with the Local Democracy Reporting Service – Mr McNamara wrote: “Although your libraries are provided via Culture Perth and Kinross, it is local authorities who have a legal duty to provide library services that their community needs, and on that basis we are pleased to see you are undergoing community consultation. We are fully aware and sympathetic to the huge financial challenges facing councils across the country, including rising demands of health and social care, the cost-of-living crisis and the level of financial settlements you receive and we have advocated at a national level for sustainable, longer term funding for local authorities.
“We understand that a variety of models are being considered including community-led provision and click and collect style services. We would be deeply concerned that community-led provision may well leave residents without the library service run by trained library professionals that they are legally entitled to. Whilst we are encouraged to note that communities care enough to try and save library services themselves, running a library is a complex challenge with many practical, financial and ethical considerations and needs trained library workers and management. This approach, or any alternative decision that results in full or part closure of a library, would be extremely damaging and may also infringe equalities law if it requires additional travel to access essential services.
“We also do not believe click and collect can adequately replace library services. Whilst elements of this can be useful as an add-on that are dedicated to widening access, this proposal is isolation could lead to communities losing vital access to a safe space that is adequately safeguarded by skilled professionals.”
He shared statistics which showed “libraries in Scotland are more popular than the cinema and football combined” and could be the “beating heart” of communities.
He told councillors: “The library (including mobile and online) was the most frequently visited cultural event or place in 2022 – 16 per cent of adults visited a library at least once a week, and over one third of adults visited at least once a month (35 per cent).”
He said libraries helped improve literacy, mental health and general health as well as helping tackle climate change and loneliness.
Mr McNamara added: “Times are extremely tough for many just now, but we must try and emerge from this period with strong and robust library services, as they are indisputable evidence of the more equal country we want to become. How we value our libraries represents how we value the potential of our communities.”
Culture Perth and Kinross library members have until September 25 to share their views via a questionnaire.
Last week a spokesperson for Culture Perth and Kinross said: “We know that library services are highly valued however the current model of service provision is no longer sustainable.
“Options include supporting community-led provision, click and collect style services and increased mobile library activity. “
Once Culture Perth and Kinross has gathered and read all the questionnaire responses, the organisation has said it “will be engaging further with library members”.