World famous castaway Robinson Crusoe could hold the key to saving one of Fife’s closure-threatened libraries, it has been claimed.
Largo Community Council said capitalising on links with Daniel Defoe’s best known character, thought to have been inspired by local man Alexander Selkirk, could attract more people into Lundin Links Library.
At present, a statue and a sign marking the village’s twinning with the Chilean island of Juan Fernandez are the only commemorations of the Robinson Crusoe connection, much to the disappointment of visitors.
But a heritage centre archiving the village’s rich history, including Selkirk’s true and amazing story, could change all that.
Lundin Links is one of 16 libraries across Fife earmarked for the axe by Fife Cultural Trust which needs to find savings of £813,000 a year.
A final decision on the services’ future will be made by councillors on Tuesday.
Peter Aitken, chairman of Largo community council, said the village should capitalise on Robinson Crusoe.
“The proposed closure of Lundin Links Library is not so much a challenge but an opportunity for our community,” he said.
“Tourists in the summer constantly ask us where the heritage centre and museum are and sadly we have to tell them there’s no museum, no heritage centre.
“When we tell them there’s only a statue they’re extremely disappointed.
“In our view the potential closure of Lundin Links Library has presented an opportunity to have a museum and heritage centre in the local library.”
Campianger Heather Paterson said local people wanted to add value to their library service.
If it remains open, she said, a not-for-profit community group would be formed to stage events such as author readings and to enable volunteers to open the library on a Saturday.
“We would also like to make closer links with local schools,” she added.
Ms Paterson said Lundin Links Library was the 16th most popular in Fife with book usage down just 2% compared with a drop of 50% in some others which will remain open under the trust’s plans.
She said the community’s proposals for the service would help buck that trend and urged local councillors to back them at Tuesday’s crunch meeting.