Several Fife communities told they were to lose their local library are fighting to stop the story coming to an end.
New chapters in book lending are being written in villages including Kinghorn, Pittenweem, Colinsburgh and East Wemyss.
Earlier this year Fife Council rubber stamped the axing of 16 libraries by Fife Cultural Trust, but the closure of some was delayed to allow communities to develop alternative proposals.
Among the projects underway is that of Kinghorn Library Renewed, a community group preparing a business plan to take over the management of Kinghorn Library.
It recently held a fund raising book sale, also intended to spread the word about its bid.
Co-chair Elizabeth Whitton said: “We need to raise awareness in the community that not only was the library saved from closure earlier in the year and will remain open until early next year but that we need people to continue visiting and borrowing from the library.
“If visitor numbers decline, it makes it more difficult to make the case to councillors that the library is a valued part of our community even though some people we’ve spoken to believe the library is already closed.”
A survey of residents brought forward more than 40 people willing to volunteer and donation pledges of more than £2,500.
Co-chair Andrew Bentley-Steed said: “Kinghorn Library Renewed aim to raise, as a minimum, the running costs for the library’s first full year before we open the library as a community-owned enterprise.
“We see this as a sensible first step in proving the viability of our business plan.”
Another larger book sale is planned in the autumn and Elizabeth said: “Once we are formally incorporated as a charitable corporation, we can launch our Friends of Kinghorn Library scheme.
“A number of respondents to the survey expressed the wish that they would like to make regular donations of an affordable amount – monthly or annually – to support the library and we want to make this happen.”
Pittenweem Community Trust and Friends of East Wemyss Library were awarded asset transfer funding of £4,850 and £3,190, respectively, by Fife Council for business plans for taking over their local libraries.
Colinsburgh Community Library was offered £4,000 for the same purpose but has already developed a business plan which also involves nursery provision.
Falkland Village Hall Trust was granted £4,995 to help with the acquisition of Falkland Library.
Councillor Frances Melville, chair of the north east Fife area committee which approved some of the grants, said: “We realise that budgets are under strain and public consultation has shown that decisions to reduce library provision across Fife are not popular.
“Therefore any means of empowering communities to develop plans for providing essential services should be commended and supported.
“The committee is pleased to offer these funds to support the community groups who are working with Fife Council to develop and produce business plans which will ultimately address the priority issues and inform a strategy for developing working community facilities.”
If they are not taken over from Fife Cultural Trust then the affected libraries will close in March next year.
