The temporary closure of three Aberdeen libraries was last night branded “a disgrace” by a local councillor.
Staff shortages mean Bucksburn and Northfield libraries will remain closed this morning while the Dyce branch closed early last night.
Labour’s Willie Young said it was another blow for the citizens of Aberdeen, while one north-east mother said it was particularly disappointing to lose the service during school holidays.
The local authority’s lead councillor for culture, Jennifer Stewart, yesterday revealed there were 19 library vacancies across the city. She said managers had done their best to keep libraries open by employing casual staff and asking part-time and full-time staff to work different hours and man libraries on their own.
However, she admitted the holidays had “made the situation more difficult” and stressed the decision to close had “not been taken lightly”.
Bridge of Don councillor Mr Young, a member of the council’s budget monitoring panel, said the committee had considered the library vacancies at its last meeting but had deferred any decision to get more information on why the shortage was so acute.
However, he claimed officers did not warn members the problem could lead to closures. “It’s pretty disgraceful,” he said. “It seems we should have been made more aware of the situation.”
Mr Young said the heart of the problem was “budgetary pressures” and he was not hopeful the vacancies would be filled.
“They say it’s down to staff but where are we going to get staff from? We’re trying to get rid of people because of the budgetary pressures,” he said.
Languages teacher Kirsteen Sayers, 38, was left disappointed when she turned up at Dyce Library yesterday afternoon with sons Jamie, 6, and Harry, 4, and found a sign on the door saying it was closed.
“We were surprised,” she said. “It’s school holidays so it’s something to do for the kids.”
An Aberdeen City Council spokesman said there was a recruitment clampdown in light of the current financial difficulties, but added that the budget monitoring panel would consider advertising eight of the vacant posts.
Bucksburn and Northfield libraries will close today from 9.30am to 1pm and 9.30am to noon respectively and Dyce Library was closed yesterday between 4pm and 7pm.
Members of the public affected by the closures have been advised to go to their nearest branches. Dyce and Mastrick library will both be opening from 9.30am.