A campaign has been launched to force a council to scrap plans to transfer ownership of libraries to an arms-length organisation.
Aberdeenshire Council plans to hand over control of libraries, swimming pools and museums to a charitable trust.
The authority claims the move, which was approved in November, would save it £1million.
However the decision has provoked opposition among some with fears that it could lead to a reduction in library services and also closures of rural facilities.
Stonehaven Community Council has launched a campaign to oppose the plans and is calling for a day of action across the region.
Chairman Phil Mills-Bishop said: “We have never supported these plans and we have never accepted the principles behind making the move.
“It’s also questionable whether this will make the saving the council says it will now the Barclay Report has recommended that arms-length organisations should no longer be exempt from business rates.
“There are also dangerous issues around governance – only 25% of the membership will be elected members which means they will not have a majority vote.
“It seems like a cynical move and based on the experiences of other local authorities we also fear that this will lead to information assistants replacing chartered librarians – losing their expertise – and closures of rural libraries because a trust would not deem it cost-effective to pay the money needed to keep them open.”
Mr Mills-Bishop is canvassing the support of other community councils and plans to hold a “Hands Off Our Libraries” demonstration on the same day and time at facilities across the area.
The authority has said that discussions are ongoing to determine how the new model will work.
Maria Walker, Aberdeenshire Council’s director of education and children’s services, said: “Following the decision by full council in November, we continue to work with staff and stakeholders to discuss the creation of the charitable trust and the transition of services.
“Arrangements are yet to be finalised, and we’ll provide further details in due course.”
