One of Scotland’s leading children’s authors has hit out at Moray Council while visiting one of four libraries scheduled for closure on Saturday.
Lari Don visiting Rothes Library on Tuesday and after reading to local school children slammed Moray Council’s for “rubbing salt into the wounds” of library users by scheduling their closure at the end of Scottish Book Week.
The author accepted an invitation from members of the Save our Libraries Moray campaign group to visit Rothes. On arriving she was faced with the closure notice on the door of the library – describing it as “gut-wrenching”.
Ms Don, who was brought up in Dufftown and was a former pupil at Mortlach Primary school, said: “It was wonderful meeting all the pupils in my old school, Mortlach Primary, and reading a book to toddlers in the library in Dufftown, because the council has backed down on its plan to close Dufftown library, so that felt like a wee celebration.
“And it was also wonderful and inspiring to meet lots of kids from Rothes Primary in Rothes library, and to hear their fabulous imaginative ideas and to see their enthusiasm for their local library.
“But it was frankly gut-wrenching to read the sign outside: Rothes Library will close at noon on Saturday 30th November. I’m still flabbergasted at the insensitivity of a council closing libraries (four of them) during Book Week Scotland.
“But the Save our Libraries Moray campaign is incredible, I met some really focussed and determined campaigners today, and I hope that they might still keep these libraries open.”
Save our Libraries Moray forced Moray Council into reversing an earlier decision to close seven libraries in the region – but say that they remain determined to halt the closure of the other four. They are currently awaiting legal advice on taking an action against the local authority to the Court of Session.
Campaigners are also planning a protest outside the Hopeman Library on Saturday at 11.30am.