Glasgow Libraries Reopening Plans

Category: News

Glasgow Life have confirmed indicative dates for opening the city’s libraries over the coming months, starting from the 26th April. CILIPS welcomes this roadmap and looks forward to seeing libraries open again with library workers able to serve their communities once more.

Sean McNamara, Head of CILIPS says, “We are pleased to see Glasgow leading by example, with a clear plan and some dates in place for many of the libraries across Scotland’s largest city. However, we also have significant concerns over the lack of current plans to open the Barmulloch, Couper Institute, Whiteinch and Maryhill libraries. These libraries serve large communities, providing essential access to books and IT, as well as improving health and wellbeing and reducing social isolation for the people who use them.

We realise we are living in hugely challenging times but would ask Glasgow to honour their earlier commitment made by the Council Leader to open every library post-pandemic and not disadvantage the people who rely on them. It is important that the impact of not opening any libraries is fully assessed and local residents are fully consulted before any final decisions are made. For example, with Pollokshields and Langside libraries not opening until August it is likely that many residents within the busy southside of Glasgow will have little or no access to vital resources for months to come and the same picture may be replicated in the other areas affected by these changes.”

Click here for petitions to save Maryhill Library and Whiteinch Library.