CLOSING Colinsburgh library will devastate the local community, angry residents have warned.
CLOSING Colinsburgh library will devastate the local community, angry residents have warned.
Fife Council bureaucrats have been accused of failing to understand the importance of the facility.
Colinsburgh library has been earmarked for closure al
ong with those at East Wemyss, Glenrothes and Thornton to save Fife Council £92,000 a year.
Four mothers _ Mandy Mitchell, Shona Hutchison, Sharon Donaldson and Kerry Dewar _ insist the library provides an invaluable service for their children.
Shona said: "I think Fife Council is being really discriminatory against Colinsburgh because we are a small rural community and it's hypocritical the way they have done this.
"This library could stand up against other libraries in Fife with similar resources."
Indeed, Colinsburgh library is something of a success story. Two years ago, just 392 books were loaned out, while last year that figure rose to 916. The projected figure for this year is a staggering 2070, with book loans increasing by 500 per cent.
"There has been no consultation at all," Shona explained. "The library is a central and consistent part of our community. There is no other place here to do the things we do.
"This has been here a long time and is part of our heritage.
"My children use the library for studying while the arts and crafts group is tremendous."
She continued: "We don't know what will happen to the building and with this hanging over our heads, it is very de-motivating.
"If they think that without consulting us we'll just roll over, they are wrong.
"We will fight this. Fife Council needs to get off its high horse and come and speak to us."
Mandy believes the service provides more than just a library for the community.
She explained: "This is a place where a lot of people on their own come in and put the kettle on. There is nothing else here for them.
"A mobile library is of no use to us. Kids come in here to use the computer and for studying.
"Shona's son has learning difficulties and uses the library a lot. The council talks about inclusion and that's a huge part of what happens here. It's not just about taking books away.
"What money are they going to save for six hours a week?"
Residents are being backed by local councillor John Bell.
He said: "I think it's excellent that the residents have got together a petition which shows the community's feeling.
"It's extremely insensitive that people only found out about this afterwards. It's appalling.
"We will have a new council in May and the situation could change as a result. I certainly hope so."
But the council remains unmoved and insists the library's closure makes economic sense.
Iain Whitelaw, community services senior manager, said: "Colinsburgh Library is one of the poorest performing libraries in Fife with low levels of usage and high costs per issue and per visit.
"Following the council decision to close the library at the end of September, the next step will be to consult locally on how to provide library services for the citizens of Colinsburgh.
"There are other small libraries which are readily accessible by car or public transport with larger libraries in Leven and Anstruther.
"However, we will give early consideration to reviewing the route of the mobile library service to incorporate Colinsburgh and look at arrangements for the housebound and disabled to access the service in the Colinsburgh community.
"In relation to the building, this will be reviewed in light of the council's decision to close the library."
