Campaign started to save Tarbert Library
A new campaign to save Tarbert Library has been launched following widespread outrage at news that it is to close.
At a meeting this week of concerned library users, as well as its current and former employees, the decision was taken to launch a petition against closure and to create a poster campaign to engage the entire community with the issue.
Tarbert residents and local councillors were only made aware of the intended closure when contacted in March by the Advertiser, but in the intervening weeks anger at the decision has grown.
“It is so disturbing how plans to close the library were done sneakily behind our backs,” Tarbert-based author, and campaigner, Lisa Tuttle said.
“We feel there should be consultation, at the very least, but LiveArgyll has already made up its mind and produced a business plan in which it states the library will be closed.”
On Monday April 7 a meeting was held to discuss what action can be taken to try and reverse the decision by LiveArgyll, which is the charitable leisure trust established by Argyll and Bute Council to run its leisure facilities.
“We asked people to the meeting who we knew were interested in the library, including members of the book club who use the library for their meetings,” Lisa explained.
However, a larger public meeting is set to be held once more details about LiveArgyll’s plans are known.
“Before the public meeting we want to get some answers so we can inform people,” Lisa explained.
“I wrote to two of the LiveArgyll board members, who are councillors, after our meeting and told them how important the library is to the community.
“I also asked them how much money would be saved by closing the library and Councillor William Sinclair replied saying £100,000 would be saved.”
The author queried the sum as the library is currently only open two days a week, and she suggested that more could be done to raise income through the library.
“I don’t understand how £100,000 could be saved, given that the building is owned by [Argyll and Bute] council,” Lisa said.
“I know that the book club and the Fèis an Tairbeirt music charity have been trying for years to pay to use the library but are always told there is no system that can be used to invoice them.
“It would be so simple to monetise the building by letting these organisations and others pay to use it in the five days when it is currently closed, but they have done nothing.”
The present campaign to save the library is not the first action taken to reverse its closure.
“The library was run by the council when they last talked about closing it,” Lisa explained. “At that time, we got a petition out and people joined the library who hadn’t done before. There was recognition that it is much loved and when it’s gone it’s gone.”
Lisa’s connection with Tarbert’s library has been strong for many years as she used to be the relief library assistant there and her daughter helped run BookBug sessions for young children. However, she believes that losing the facility would impact the village in more ways than people might predict.
“We’ve lost so much in Tarbert,” she said. “There used to be three banks and a building society and now there’s none. The cumulative effect of losing all of these makes the village less attractive and vibrant to live in.”
Lisa added that someone at Monday’s meeting pointed out that the only council-run facility left in the village would be the toilets.
“There are cafes and restaurants for tourists, but it is the children and other residents who are losing so much,” she said.
“When the Tarbert Academy librarian was made redundant the council said that the school didn’t need a librarian because the village had a library, but now that is going.
"Books are so important, and some people don’t have other ways of accessing them. The poorest people are always the hardest hit.”
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