Community group pass first hurdle to opening new library for Kinghorn

The group, comprising entirely of volunteers, has had the business plan it submitted to Fife Cultural Trust, the organisation currently responsible for the running of Fife’s libraries, on how it would run the library approved.

A working group comprising officers of Fife Council and Fife Cultural Trust reviewed all proposals received for alternative delivery models. The group advised Kinghorn Library Renewed on Tuesday that its proposal, which will also include tourist and other local information, met the necessary criteria and should be taken forward.

The next step in the process of moving towards a community-run facility is to discuss and agree the lease arrangements with the council, something the group plans to do in the near future. 

Fife Cultural Trust has also confirmed that it will agree a date for the handover of the library as soon as possible.

KLR will now discuss with the trust its plans to receive withdrawn library book stock on a regular basis. 

Elizabeth Whitton, secretary of the voluntary group, said; “This is excellent news and we are all absolutely delighted to have made it past this important hurdle.

“I’d like to thank our chairman, Andrew Bentley-Steed, for all his hard work in constructing the business plan; the committee, the volunteers and the Kinghorn community for all their support.”

KLR is now waiting confirmation of official charitable status and planning another fundraising book sale in September. It is also designing a ‘library scarecrow’ for the Kinghorn in Bloom Scarecrow Trail which starts next Saturday.