As Save our Libraries Moray awaits legal advice on their continued campaign to retain the remaining four libraries in region scheduled for closure a leading Scottish author is to join campaigners at Rothes Library this week.
Last week’s decision by Moray Council to retain three of the under-threat libraries at Dufftown, Cullen and Burghead has been welcomed by Save our Libraries Moray – however the group has pledged to continue their campaign until all seven libraries are retained.
To that end they have sought further information on pressing ahead with their legal case from their legal advisers and hope to have further information on that early this week.
Meanwhile events are being planned this week at two of the under-threat libraries, in Rothes and Hopeman.
On Tuesday leading Scottish author Lari Don will visit the library at Rothes at 11am to lend her support to the campaign. She said: “I was delighted to learn that three of the Libraries in Moray were to remain open thanks to the wonderful spirit and determination shown by Save our Libraries Moray campaigners.
“I wanted to do something to support their cause and had planned to visit Dufftown library on Tuesday, with that library’s future now secure I’ll be joining local campaigners and Rothes to lend my support to their continuing action.
“I have undertaken several tours of Libraries throughout the country and they have shown me that our local libraries are as important to young and old now as they have always been. No local authority should be looking to close libraries.”
On Saturday campaigners are planning to hold a mass protest at the Hopeman Library at 11.30am, with campaigner Vivien Hendry saying: “Our library is now due to close that day but we remain hopeful that in the next few days a legal case can be brought that would save it for the time being at least.
“The case we have constantly made for Hopeman remains true – instead of repaying European funding and closing the library now the same amount would be enough to keep it open for two more years when no refund would need to be paid.”