There's been a lot of love for libraries today with SLIC and National Library of Scotland launching the #LoveLibraries campaign.

Why do you love libraries?

At the weekend locals gathered to protest outside of Cardonald Library as they demand Glasgow Life to "Gies Back Our Books". The library was suddenly shut in September 2023 due to RAAC with no word of when it will reopen.

Read Peter Cassidy's report for STV News here: news.stv.tv/west-central...

A fantastic article in @heraldscotland.bsky.social by @joshpizpom.bsky.social about the devastating consequences further library service cuts and closures will bring to Aberdeenshire towns & villages: www.heraldscotland.com/news/2491933...

Meanwhile, disappointing news from Aberdeenshire. There's too much we want to say about this decision to fit into the character limit on BlueSky.

Thank you to @philmcdonald94.bsky.social for continuing to draw attention to the plight of these public libraries.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...?

Please note the video above contains information licensed under the Scottish Parliament Copyright Licence.

After meeting with MSPs in Parliament yesterday, we were pleased to hear this commitment from Angus Robertson to look at the definition of 'adequate' public library services.

We hope the Cabinet Secretary will be willing to meet with us very soon before more libraries are lost in Scotland.

The debate is just started - tune in now!

The people of Glasgow are no strangers to fighting for their communities. In September 2023 Cardonald Library was suddenly closed by ALEO, Glasgow Life apparently due to RAAC in the roof. Numerous protests to 'Gies back oor books' have happened, and a petition launched last week has 1340 signatures.

Down in North Ayrshire, several libraries are under threat as the council have them on the chopping board as they make budget cuts. Once again, the communities of Saltcoats and Ardrossan are back petitioning again as the council meet to decide on spending for 2025/26.

In a similar story to Moray and Aberdeenshire, Perth and Kinross are faced with the threatened closure of seven libraries by Culture Perth and Kinross, an ALEO. Local campaigners in the area have begun organising together, as they hope the Council provide funds to stop the cuts.

If you haven't been able to book a ticket to watch the Save Local Libraries debate in the Chamber, you will be able to watch online from 5 pm: www.scottishparliament.tv/meeting/meet...

The people of Moray have had to fight against closures before. Just over ten years ago they were preparing to submit a judicial review to Court of Session, when Moray Council reversed their decision on several of the libraries up for closure. Now seven libraries are under threat there again.

Kintore is just one of 13 libraries that Live Life Aberdeenshire want to close due to an apparent lack of funding from Aberdeenshire Council. For some towns and villages their library is their last remaining community space, like in New Pitsligo who recently saw their Community Centre close as well.

This quote reflects the thoughts of many library users in Kintore, Aberdeenshire who were told their library wasn't getting enough footfall. The library which is in a building next to the primary school is very popular as evidenced by the petition and many local community Facebook groups.

Right now some of our members are in Holyrood hoping to meet MSPs over lunchtime.

We wanted to give them a flavour of why people all over Scotland have been signing petitions against the closure of libraries, and the reasons public libraries matter to them.

@damianbarr.bsky.social @philmcdonald94.bsky.social @lacollier.bsky.social @slipshodspeller.bsky.social @scottishgreens.org @unisonmedia.bsky.social @ianrankin1.bsky.social @kathleenjamie.bsky.social @sarasheridan.bsky.social @cilip.bsky.social

Today, we sent a press release to journalists ahead of tomorrow's Save Local Libraries Debate in Scottish Parliament.

We hope tomorrow starts an important conversation about how Scotland's libraries can thrive instead of just fighting for survival.

Read full Press Release here: bit.ly/40ZPuyo

We will add this to our linktree Malcolm! Thank you for giving us the heads up about it 👍

We're behind you all the way!

🚨 Big news!
Mark Ruskell MSP has secured a Save Local Libraries debate in the Scottish Parliament on Feb 5 at 5 p.m.

Write to your MSPs to urge them to attend the debate and a meet-and-greet from 1-2 p.m. in Committee Room 5: www.writetothem.com

Let’s protect libraries across Scotland! 📚

A fantastic post from Katharine Hay in @thescotsmanpaper.bsky.social this week on the importance of rural libraries: www.scotsman.com/hays-way/my-...

#LibrariesAreEssential

There are a number of groups protesting the announcement of closures to their local libraries in Aberdeenshire, Moray and Perth & Kinross. You can find links to their petitions here: linktr.ee/friendsofsco...