Councillors agree to close 16 Fife libraries Published duration 8 December 2015

image copyright Google image caption Kinghorn Library is one of the libraries which will close

Councillors have agreed to close 16 libraries in Fife.

Libraries at Abbeyview, Bowhill, Colinsburgh, Crail, Crossgates, East Wemyss, Falkland, Freuchie, Glenwood and Kinghorn are to shut.

Libraries in Lundin Links, Markinch, Pittenweem, Pitteuchar, Thornton and Townhill are also to close.

Fife Council's executive committee took the "tough decision" to make sure the service was "sustainable" and "suited to customer need".

Dates for the closures are yet to be decided.

'Valuable service'

Councillor David Ross said: "Libraries are an important and valuable service for our communities across Fife but we need to acknowledge that the way people use them is changing.

"A Fife-wide review of libraries has not been carried out for a number of years.

"This comes at a time when local authorities are up against unprecedented financial challenge.

"We have a responsibility to decide how best to respond to all of these changes and work with Fife Cultural Trust to make sure our library service is as sustainable and suited to customer need as possible."

He said two thirds of respondents to a questionnaire understood why the proposals had been made and nearly half of those taking part agreed with them.