THERE WAS anger, confusion and a fair amount of misinformation last week concerning the current dramatic downsizing of Dunoon Library within the Queen’s Hall.
News broke last Thursday afternoon that the library would be closing on Monday and reopening on Tuesday, March 11, where all books would be rehoused in two smaller meeting rooms on the ground floor of the building.
Up until the start of this week the facility had occupied an enormous space on the first floor which stretched almost the full length of the Queen’s Hall. The closure of the library for relocation meant the facility was shut on World Book Day on Thursday, March 6.
There was wide spread condemnation of the move on local social media channels with many, who were angry at the sudden announcement, sharing liveArgyll’s email address to send a letter of complaint.
An official statement from liveArgyll was posted online last Friday morning and read: “We hope this message finds you well. We are writing to address some inaccuracies circulating on social media and provide clarity on the status and future plans for Dunoon Library.
“First and foremost, Dunoon Library is not closing. It is being relocated within the Queen’s Hall as part of a repurposing exercise to ensure that the available space is used to its full potential. Despite the misinformation, the live book stock will remain intact. However, obsolete or dead stock, i.e., books that have not been issued for several years—some exceeding 10 years—will be removed.
“liveArgyll, as a charity, must ensure that all spaces and facilities are used efficiently. As part of the relocation, a dedicated adult library will be created on the ground floor, along with a separate Children’s area. All current library services will remain fully operational with access being extended with longer opening hours.”
The statement continued: “Contrary to the many inaccuracies on social media, the current library space will not be converted into a bar. Instead, it will have multi-purpose functionality, including small conferencing, meeting space, event space, studio space, and more, all available to the community.
“Lastly, it is important to note that liveArgyll has a cost base of £7.5 million and is only partly funded by Argyll and Bute Council. The significant majority of costs are covered through income generation. For services to remain in their current form, liveArgyll must ensure that all venues are used to their maximum potential. Income generation is crucial as it allows the funding of all leisure, Library, Active Schools, and Community Learning services. There is no profit or shareholders; every penny is reinvested into services. Thank you for your understanding and continued support.”
Dunoon library was relocated from Castle House to a large purpose built facility in 1993, (which is now occupied by Bute and Cowal Vets), then in 2018 it was moved again along with 6,000 books to the Queen’s Hall following the building’s major £13M refurbishment.
A library user who contacted this newspaper last Thursday afternoon was fuming that there had been no proper notification of the move to users and she was deeply concerned over the size of the two proposed separate rooms which will now house the library.
She explained: “I’m a student and I use the library every week for study, as do so many others, I was told today, (Thursday), by a member of staff that the entire library which occupies a large section of the first floor of the Queen’s Hall is to be closed and moved to two small rooms on the ground floor. What is going on? I would love to know what consultation was taken about this decision? It’s pretty clear that loads of the book stock will now go as the two rooms could not possibly house what the current library has and what happens to quiet study areas with PC use on a floor with loud fitness classes next door? Nobody who uses the library that I know of knew anything about this downsizing, it’s deeply concerning. We were all told that the new Queen’s Hall would house a large library with amazing views over the Clyde, but then we were also told the building would have a large cafe which is now a full time gym. So our council tax goes up but our library is being downsized.”
On Tuesday morning during Argyll and Bute Council’s Bute and Cowal Area Committee meeting the topic of Dunoon Library’s move was brought up and Cowal ward councillor William Sinclair, who also sits on the liveArgyll board, took an opportunity to explain exactly why the relocation had to happen.
He said: “These are extremely difficult times, and liveArgyll is exposed to that through the National Insurance contribution, which it will have to increase to the tune of £155,000. That is not a small amount of money. The situation we are faced with is that our cost base has increased significantly. Our base line costs have gone from £6.2M to £7.3M, but service payment has reduced.
“To be perfectly clear, the situation with one of our premier facilities, possibly one of the best in Scotland, Helensburgh Leisure Centre, (currently closed due to significant storm damage), has to be taken into account. “LiveArgyll has a reduction in payments from the prices people pay. As far as the monthly figure is concerned, it is costing them £126,000 a month until Helensburgh Leisure Centre is back open.
“We are doing everything we possibly can. It is a difficult thing with libraries and I understand the issue this has caused, but liveArgyll are only trying to do the best job to provide a library service.”
Directly after the relocation announcement was made last week a petition was organised by local residents and on Thursday morning it had garnered close to 500 signatures, part of the petition reads: “We believe in preserving our library as it is – a focal point of communal bonding, learning, and growth. By standing together, we can ensure that this decision is reversed. We ask for your support in maintaining the integrity of Dunoon Library, protecting the services it offers, and preserving the sense of community it has helped to build. Please, sign this petition and help us save our library.”
Its understood that the topic of Dunoon Library’s relocation will be raised during next Monday night’s, (March 10), Dunoon Community Council meeting in the Queen’s Hall, where members of the public are welcome to attend.
