Library is being protected, not attacked claims council leader

Arguments continue to rage over the changes currently taking place at William Patrick Library.

The council and East Dunbartonshire Leisure and Culture Trust are creating a ‘community hub’ at the library.

The ground floor was closed on June 3 for 12 weeks to allow work on the hub – a ‘one-stop-shop’ for a range of council services.

Councillor Geekie said: “We are not cutting library provision in William Patrick Library or the services it provides to the local community. Neither are we slashing the size of the library or destroying the library in any way, shape or form.

“We are, as we have been saying for several weeks now, providing everyone in Kirkintilloch with a state-of-the-art library they will be proud of.”

She added: “Consultation on the concept of community hubs was carried out last year and was well publicised, not only by the council but by other media, including the Herald.

“William Patrick Library employees were also involved in developing the new plans and have influenced the design of the new library. Indeed, they are looking forward to working in the new purpose-built facility.

“We have now entered the next stage of local engagement and are asking the people of Kirkintilloch and our stakeholders how they think services should be delivered within the Kirkintilloch Community Hub.

“In the run-up to this engagement, petition leaders were very vocal in their criticism of the community hub and what they saw as a cut in library provision.

“The petition leaders attended a meeting with council officers on June 6 and had an opportunity to feed into this essential process.

“It’s particularly disappointing, therefore, that the petition leaders were not willing to hear the issues debated at all.“

However, union chiefs have accused library bosses of ignoring staff concerns about controversial plans for a community hub.

Jim Burnett, convener of UNISON’s East Dunbartonshire branch, says his members were assured by the council and East Dunbartonshire Leisure and Culture Trust (EDLCT) that they would have input into the plans.

But he claims the union has been left “angry and disappointed” at the lack of consultation.

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