Three closure-threatened Fife libraries appear to have been handed a lifeline thanks to the local community. Picture: Steven Brown.

Libraries in Falkland, Glenrothes and Dunfermline will continue to operate as proposals get the go-ahead

Alternative delivery models for three closure-threatened Fife libraries have been given the green light by councillors.

Members of the region’s executive committee have approved Falkland Village Hall Trust’s plan for a community takeover of the library in the village.

Meanwhile, a joint business plan from the Glenrothes Area Residents Association (GARF) and West Glenrothes Tenants and Residents Association for a community-run library in Glenwood – replacing the town’s Glenwood Library – has also been given the go-ahead.

And with Abbeyview Library in Dunfermline due to close in March, councillors also agreed to interim arrangements to accommodate a community book borrowing service in Abbeyview Local Office until a wider review of facilities is progressed.

The committee heard that two plans had been submitted to take forward library services in Falkland, with Lomond Pharmacy Limited putting forward a counter proposal that would have seen the pharmacy and library co-located in the library building.

However, the trust’s blueprint was favoured, and the council will now enter into discussions with them about lease arrangements for taking over the Falkland Library building when Fife Cultural Trust ceases a statutory service at the facility next spring.

Council leader David Ross said: “We very much welcome the range of proposals that we’ve received for alternatively run libraries from the affected communities across Fife. We’re having to make very difficult decisions as a result of our financial challenges and the review of Fife’s libraries has been an emotive and difficult one for everyone.

“We have supported the communities that have expressed an interest to provide an alternative library service in their area and I’m pleased that we have had positive engagement from community groups, so are now in the position where it looks like at least half of the communities affected by the library closures will have alternative library provision available to them, as well as the continuation of mobile library services across Fife.

“When the changes are fully implemented we will still maintain one of the largest statutory library networks in Scotland with 35 libraries and two mobile libraries.

“The proposals for continued library provision in Abbeyview and Glenwood will complement the current initiatives for the wider regeneration of the areas.”

In relation to Abbeyview and Glenwood, the new options are being progressed after feasibility exercises at Woodmill and Glenwood high schools concluded it was not viable to incorporate library services into those schools.

COUNCIL LEADER DAVID ROSS

Ian Robertson and Leslie Bain outside Glenwood Library in Glenrothes, which will now be run by the community.