Council 'regrets' handling of library closure news

Aberdeenshire Council has expressed "regret" over how it announced the closures of 13 libraries.

Live Life Aberdeenshire, which delivers services for the council, said on Friday the sites would close by the end of the year due to reducing usage. It said 18 libraries in "main towns" would remain open.

However there was a community backlash about a lack of consultation.

BBC Scotland News has learned a final decision will be taken by councillors before the end of the financial year, so some buildings may remain open into 2025.

Laurence Findlay, Aberdeenshire Council’s director of education and children’s services, said he would rather have had the chance to engage fully with communities first.

The library buildings that will close are in Balmedie, Boddam, Cairnbulg, Cruden Bay, Insch, Inverbervie, Kintore, Macduff, New Pitsligo, Newmachar, Newtonhill, Rosehearty and Strichen.

Petitions have been launched to fight the closures.

Mr Findlay said: “We regret how this has been handled to date.

"I think the communication around the whole proposal was unfortunate.

"There’s been engagement with a number of users in some of the areas. We haven’t consulted with all users yet.

"But our assurance is to continue engaging with communities over the weeks ahead to allow councillors to make an informed decision about the future of these buildings."

He said the plan was to close buildings but have library services remaining in a different way.

Alison Nolan, chief executive of the Scottish Library and Information Council (SLIC), expressed “grave concerns” over the “drastic” nature of the plans.