Public libraries across Scotland are being closed or are threatened with closure by Local Authorities searching for the easy victims in their need to cut spending. Libraries, however, provide a wealth of services, as well as free access to books, the internet, and information. The plight of Scotland’s local library services was debated in the Scottish Parliament on Wednesday 5th of February. What did our elected politicians have to say?
The debate was brought before The Scottish Parliament by Mark Ruskell, the Scottish Green MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife.
His motion highlighted “the vital role that local libraries play in their communities, acting as central hubs for borrowing, learning, community engagement and sourcing advice and support; believes that the closure of libraries leaves communities without these vital services, and that this is particularly damaging for rural areas where libraries can be heavily relied on.”
Sitting watching the MSPs in the public gallery of the Chamber were people campaigning to keep their local libraries open, and representatives from the Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals Scotland.
Mark Ruskell pointed out that even many of those libraries who are remaining open will have their hours cut. He said:
“It is ironic that closures are being proposed to make savings for Perth and Kinross Council when that is clearly a false economy. Perth and Kinross Council spends less than any other council on its library services, despite having the second-highest level of library usage in Scotland.”
Libraries in that part of Scotland are run by a company with charitable status , Culture Perth and Kinross.
Mark Ruskell continued pointing out the uncertain future many local libraries face:
“Many campaigners across Scotland feel like they are on a treadmill, with proposals to cut libraries being brought back year after year. A total of 53 libraries have closed across Scotland since 2014, and many more are now slated for closure, so it is a critical time right now.”
Christine Grahame the SNP MSP for Midlothian South , Tweeddale and Lauderdale in the Scottish Borders said that her local library was one of the main reasons she was able to obtain the higher level education in her youth. Christine Grahame continues to use local libraries in her area where she holds regular meetings with constituents.
Speaking of her time as a teacher and the school library she said:
“As a novice teacher, my own education improved in leaps and bounds thanks to the wonderful, eccentric Dorothy Devlin, who was then the librarian at Woodmill High school in Dunfermline, which was my very first posting. I think that, as a team, we made English as a subject worthwhile, and even fun. She also stood her ground against an attempt to censor her stock of books. There was something wild and radical about her, so even though she had a bun, and spectacles on the end of her nose, she put paid to the assumption that librarians are boring — they are radical.”
And she ended her contribution with a quote from Laura Ward, an American singer:
“Libraries always remind me that there are good things in this world.”
“Let us keep our libraries, with all the diverse opportunities and spaces that they provide, right at the heart of their communities—and if they try to close one in my constituency, I will be right there, barricading the doors,” the MSP said.
Across the Chamber MSPs of all party colours declared their love of libraries and the important role the play in our communities. Tim Eagle, the Highlands and Islands Conservative MSP has previously served as a local councillor in Moray. He stressed the extreme pressure councils are under to make cuts to local services wherever they can find them. He also reaffirmed that Conservatives stand for a low tax economy.
The Scottish Book Trust’s report “The value and impact of Scotland’s libraries” was highlighted by Claire Baker, Labour MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife. Whilst also pointing out the invaluable role libraries have in our communities she felt “consideration could be given to targeted funding that could support libraries as part of our educational and social infrastructure “, or other means of funding them.
Lots of MSPs were keen to praise local libraries in this debate. The Minister for Public Finance in the Scottish Government is Ivan McKee. He pointed out how important local libraries became during the Covid pandemic and the “wide array of essential services ” that they provide.
He said:
“Libraries offer a free and inclusive space for people. They provide a wide range of benefits, offering essential access to learning materials and resources that might otherwise be out of reach. They are key to providing access to information technology, bridging the digital divide, closing the attainment gap, enhancing educational outcomes, supporting children and young people in early years, engaging our older citizens, and empowering our communities. They play a fundamental role in building strong, resilient communities and allowing people to come together to learn, connect, engage and create.”
He went on to state the funding problems that the Scottish Government has but which has found an increase for Local Authorities in the draft Budget:
“The Scottish Government has provided block grant funding of more than £14 billion to local authorities this financial year—that is, 2024-25—which is a real-terms increase of 2.5 per cent. Assuming that our budget passes later this month, authorities will, in financial year 2025-26, receive record funding of £15 billion, a further real-terms increase of 4.7 per cent.”
He continued:
” The Scottish Government supports our libraries through our funding to the Scottish Library and Information Council, which provides leadership and advice to Scottish ministers, local authorities and the wider library sector.
“We support the council with annual funding of £665,000, including £450,000 for the public library improvement fund. That is on top of the Scottish Government’s general revenue funding to local authorities. In 2024-25, 13 individual projects across the country were awarded PLIF funding. A further £270,000 has been allocated to SLIC in the 2025-26 budget, subject to its passing later this month, to allow it to expand its important work.”
So, apart from the great support voiced by MSPs from every political party, what will happen next? The Scottish Government has committed to ‘engage with Local Authorities on how the library service in their communities can be supported.’
It is up to local communities to make their feelings felt, as many have done, if they want to save their libraries.
And what we need to remember in all this, is once the library goes so do communities lose access to the experts who work within them, the librarians.
You can watch the whole debate here:
The Scottish Book Trust Report finds:
- 1 in 3 librarians reported that their whole service is at risk of reduction or
losses. - 82% – or 4 in 5 librarians – reported a restriction on their funding and
resources. - 1 in 3 librarians reported loss of dedicated librarians and other library staff.
In addition to ongoing cuts faced by the library sector, librarians reported a
widespread lack of understanding from their local authorities about the social, longterm impact of their service.
The Orkney News has several articles about local libraries. You can find them by using the search option on the website.
Fiona Grahame
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