Campaign to save Glasgow library gains traction ahead of council’s budget release
Local campaign group ‘Gies Back Our Books’ has once again called on Glasgow City Council to reopen Cardonald library, following its indefinite closure more than a year ago.
It comes after it held its most recent protest outside the facility last weekend, ahead of the council’s budget announcement on February 20th next week.
The group was formed in November 2024 in response to the council’s perceived inaction and lack of communication surrounding the status of the library, following its “temporary” closure in September 2023.
It was shut down abruptly after reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC) was discovered on its roof – making it at risk of potential collapse.
However, since then, campaign member, Fiona Mack, says that local residents have received “no recent updates” regarding the future of the library or whether alternative previsions will be made if it is to remain closed.
She said: “That’s why we started the campaign, because more than a year later, there had been no progress, and very little information from the council.
“So, we started monthly protests, where members of the community have been coming together to share books and resources, and demand action.”
Mack, says that communication with the council and Glasgow Life (who also manage the facility) has been “frustrating” and also that local MPs have offered “cut and paste responses” to the group’s enquiries.
She said: “It feels that the responses we’ve been getting are very tokenistic, and that we’re just receiving the same information repeatedly from the council, Glasgow Life, and local councillors, every month.
“They continue to tell us that they are assessing the situation, and but give us no answers as to if and when the library’s doors will reopen.”
Following months of frustration, the group also launched an online petition to raise awareness of the library’s plight and put pressure on the council to take action.
Since going live on January 28th, it has received more than 1600 signatures and garnered local media interest, which Mack hopes will finally lead to some answers.
She said: “It’s been great, we’ve had STV News, The Glasgow Times, and The Herald all reporting on the situation.
“So, we just hope that there’s be enough interest generated and the library roof will, finally, be included in the budget decision.”
If you wish to support the campaign, you can sign the petition here:
https://www.change.org/p/save-cardonald-library?source_location=search
