“Vandalism” – author’s fury over controversial library shake-up in Kirkintilloch

PLANS to hive off part of a popular library for use as a community hub have been branded “outrageous”.
By The Newsroom
Published 9th May 2012, 10:10 BST

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Award-winning author Theresa Breslin has hit out at proposals for Kirkintilloch’s William Patrick Library.

She wants the council to use one of the empty shops in the town centre for the hub and says she is shocked that the library will be closed for for 12 weeks while construction work gets underway.

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Theresa, a former librarian with Strathkelvin District Council, says that since the library was gifted to the community, the plans could breach the statutory requirements of its bequest.

She continued: “This is vandalism. Why is it that a building that has been handed over to the Leisure and Culture Trust to be operated at arms length is going to be used by core council departments?

“This is a major community asset and it’s outrageous the community has not seen these plans.

“They are breaking the terms of the bequest, if not in law then in spirit.”

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Mark Grant, general manager of East Dunbartonshire Leisure and Culture Trust, said: “As part of the redevelopment of the library, there will be a modest reduction in floorspace and shelving, however, this is offset by the introduction of more modern, attractive and usable shelving and display systems, which we anticipate will at least maintain and hopefully increase the number of issues.

“As part of the ongoing stock editing regime, dead and grubby stock will be removed while replacement copies of popular titles will be ordered in paperback where available. In addition, areas of stock that are under used will be considered first to reduce volumes of titles.

“The full range of DVDs will be displayed but due to falling demand from users, the number of CDs will be reduced.”

He continued: “We have examined the legal position and are satisfied that we are not in breach of the requirements of the library bequest.

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