Representatives from a Moray community are set to mark their becoming part of a region-wide campaign to save local libraries scheduled for closure in a highly unusual fashion.
Regular users of the library in Hopeman are to hold a fancy dress ‘Flash Mob’ at the local library on Thursday at 3.20pm.
The Hopeman library is one of seven set to be closed by Moray Council, with the local independent councillor in the area, Eric McGillivray, a member of the ruling administration group who voted for closure despite warnings that to do so may bring about a legal challenge.
Local resident Vivien Hendry is one of several library users who has joined the ‘Save our Libraries Moray’ campaign. The Moray-wide campaign has sought legal advice on challenging the council decision in the Court of Session.
Ms Hendry said: “It will be a very visual way to show how much the children care about their books and what they will be losing when the library closes.
“It is also Children’s Book Week and National Poetry week, I believe. As it stands, by Book Week next year there will be no library in Hopeman.
“The next Scottish Reading Challenge, ‘Made in Scotland’ launches this week too. In the Summer Reading Challenge (Spooky House) there was a high number of Hopeman children taking part who completed it this year – again, next year this will not be possible as things stand, without numerous trips into Elgin.”
Library users will be joined by members of the Hopeman Book Group in Thursday’s protest, with the group also announcing that a new award is to be created for pupils at Hopeman Primary School in memory of former member Helen Harker.
Ms Hendry explained: “The award will be for ‘Endeavour’, not for the highest achieving. Helen used the library until she died recently, studying her entire life. She hated the idea that the library was to close.”