Book-lovers have banded together in a “unique” project to help keep their local library open later at weekends.
The Friends of Loch Leven Community Library (FoLLCL) volunteers will take over from staff every Saturday afternoon and run the facility until closing time at 4pm.
The group acted after becoming concerned that council cost-cutting measures meant the scaling back of hours at the Kinross library.
It currently closes at 1pm on a Saturday and also has reduced hours on a Monday.
The volunteers took on their first shift on Saturday at 1pm.
There are currently 17 volunteers and by September FoLLCL hope to have recruited more willing hands to allow them to open longer on Mondays as well
Volunteer Richard Scott said: “This will be the only volunteer-led library service in Perth and Kinross. It is quite unique.
“This is a very well used service and a lot of work has gone in to getting the volunteers to this point. We have been well supported by the council.”
Jill Mackintosh, library services coordinator at Culture Perth and Kinross, said the volunteers would not replace staff on a permanent basis.
She said: “The Friends of Loch Leven Community Library (FoLLCL) volunteers will be providing a limited service in Loch Leven Community Library from 1pm until 4pm.
“Saturday was the first session in the library where volunteers were able to extend opportunities for the local community beyond the opening time of 1pm. FoLLL volunteers have been supported by and worked closely with library staff.
“The volunteers will only be providing the service on Saturday afternoons and there is no intention for them to operate the service at any other time.”
In November 2013 members of Perth and Kinross Council backed plans to reduce opening hours at every library in the area as part of a £281,000 cost-cutting exercise.
The move sparked a backlash in Kinross, which locals said was the busiest in the region after Perth’s AK Bell, resulting in protests being held outside the facility.
