Library campaigners to protest outside South Lanarkshire Council HQ
Several community facilities are set to be withdrawn in South Lanarkshire Leisure and Cultures bid to save money
Protesters will be outside of South Lanarkshire Council's headquarters this afternoon, demanding bosses rethink plans to withdraw from libraries.
More than 30 libraries and village halls across the region will close after April 30th 2024, unless a community asset transfer is agreed.
South Lanarkshire Leisure and Culture (SLLC) is a trust operated on behalf of South Lanarkshire Council.
Both bodies are trying to make savings as part of producing a balanced budget.
READ MORE: List of South Lanarkshire Leisure and Culture venues at risk of withdrawal revealed
The local authority’s budget gap over the next two years is £42 million. As SLLC’s largest funder, this has had a knock-on impact on the services it can deliver.
Councillors agreed to introduce a Community Fightback Fund of £1m to keep the venues earmarked for closure open for longer, to allow interest for Community Asset Transfers.
A Future Libraries Fund was also announced as a separate, £150,000 fund to reprovision services wherever a library is affected by rationalisation.
Following a SLLC meeting on 28 February, the board "with regret" agreed to withdraw from facilities after April 30.
However, some campaigners believe setting up a Community Asset Transfer can be a difficult process and unachievable for locals.
READ MORE: Locals say Community Asset Transfers may not save SLLC facilities
'These institutions are vital'
Tracy Macrury is among the protesters due to gather on Almada Street from 4.30 pm on Thursday 7 March.
The group, focussing on the local facilities of Blantyre, Halfway and Cambuslang Libraries, has also set up a petition which is available here.
She said: "As a resident of Cambuslang, Glasgow and a mother of two young children, I have personally witnessed the transformative power our local libraries hold.
"My 9-year-old and my nearly 2-year-old have blossomed from shy individuals into confident book lovers, thanks to the resources and nurturing environment these libraries provide.
"Our local libraries are not just repositories of books; they are lifelines for our community. They serve as safe havens for our children to explore their curiosity, develop their literacy skills and grow their confidence.
"Moreover, they play an essential role in promoting mental health within our community by offering a space for social interaction.
"In areas like ours that face social deprivation challenges, these institutions are vital. They provide access to books and technology that might otherwise be out of reach for many individuals and families."
READ MORE: South Lanarkshire Council Budget: 'Truly awful and painful' decisions
SLLC comment
Chair of the Board of SLLC, Dr Avril Osborne, said: “Decisions were required to be taken in light of existing financial pressures placed on SLLC as well as SLC’s decision at its own Budget setting meeting last week to reduce the management fee it provides to SLLC to run its services.
“A comprehensive consultation process with residents and other stakeholders took place between November last year and this month which saw around 14,500 responses received across the three stages of the resident consultation.
“Work has been ongoing throughout to examine how we best mitigate matters, including through efficiencies, rationalisation and increased income generation.
“SLLC and SLC are already engaged in the community to actively support continuation of facilities through these initiatives and that support will continue in the months ahead.”