SLIC criticises Aberdeen City Council's decision to close six libraries

The Scottish Library and Information Council (SLIC) has criticised Aberdeen City Council’s decision to close six libraries as a “bitter blow” to those who need the service the most.  

Aberdeen City Council made the decision as part of efforts to save £280,000 from this year’s budget, Aberdeen Live reported. The closure of the outlets would reduce the number of libraries in the city by nearly one-third and could leave Aberdeen with the lowest number of library branches per head of population in Scotland.

Pamela Tulloch, SLIC chief executive, told The Bookseller that the decision "demonstrates a fundamental misunderstanding of what a library service is by those elected members who voted to close one third of the Aberdeen’s public libraries”.

She said this was a particular concern as the city “experiences significant poverty and deprivation”. “For those affected who use libraries to support attainment, economic wellbeing, digital access and health and wellbeing services it is a bitter blow to their day-to-day lives,” she said. 

“Whoever has provided council officials with advice that libraries can be removed from communities without causing harm, has seriously misled those involved in the decision-making process, and the public purse will have to pick up the cost from the fall out of the closures. It is a false economy.

“This is particularly the case during a ‘cost-of-living crisis’, where libraries are providing a safe haven for people struggling with increasing bills including the cost of heating their homes. For a city which experiences significant data poverty, it heaps further pressure on those who are digitally excluded.

“This is a decision made by individuals who choose to use libraries at the expense of those who need to use libraries.” 

An Aberdeen City Council spokesperson said: "The council is facing significant financial pressures in 2023/24 and is having to reduce its spending in a number of areas. As part of the budget process on the 1st March, 2023, the decision was made to close six libraries which is happening on 1st April 2023."

They stressed residents will still be able to use library services at 10 branch libraries in locations across the city.