Villagers urged to come together to save library

Crail's library is in danger of closing permanently after a public meeting failed to attract enough volunteers to take forward plans for the community to take over the service.
By The Newsroom
Published 25th Jun 2016, 12:04 BST
Updated 25th Aug 2016, 19:42 BST
Members of Crail Community Council are organising a campaign to try and avert the closure of the local library, which is among those under threat from Fife Cultural Trust's plans. They have got the Primary School on board as well, with the kids designing posters and writing letters, so a small group of the protestors will be outside the library, which is housed within Crail Town Hall. pictured is Stephen Gethins MP and 11 Yr old Atilla Newey.Members of Crail Community Council are organising a campaign to try and avert the closure of the local library, which is among those under threat from Fife Cultural Trust's plans. They have got the Primary School on board as well, with the kids designing posters and writing letters, so a small group of the protestors will be outside the library, which is housed within Crail Town Hall. pictured is Stephen Gethins MP and 11 Yr old Atilla Newey.
Members of Crail Community Council are organising a campaign to try and avert the closure of the local library, which is among those under threat from Fife Cultural Trust's plans. They have got the Primary School on board as well, with the kids designing posters and writing letters, so a small group of the protestors will be outside the library, which is housed within Crail Town Hall. pictured is Stephen Gethins MP and 11 Yr old Atilla Newey.

The village’s library was earmarked for closure as part of Fife Cultural Trust’s budget savings, and an early campaign attracted many villagers. However, a public meeting to move plans forward attracted just 16 people, and while several were prepared to volunteer to work in the library, just two people were prepared to serve on a steering group.

Now, a final appeal has been made to villagers to come forward to develop a business plan in time for Fife Council’s July 26 deadline for proposals to run a library service.

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Otherwise, the community council has warned, Crail’s bid to run a community library or community hub will not go ahead, and the library will permanently close.

Writing in the regular village newsletter About Crail, Peter Salkeld echoed that warning reminding villagers that Fife Council is also considering transferring Crail’s two public halls to the community. “Unless groups and individuals in Crail start working together to work out ways to safeguard the future we risk losing the library and the halls,” he wrote.

Meanwhile, Falkland Community Library Service has been awarded almost £5000 from Fife Council to support its bid to run the local library service.

Related topics:VillagersFife Council