Moray Council will be debating a report at the full council meeting by Executive Director Education, Housing and Communities, on Libraries, Learning Centres and Heritage Service Transformation, at their meeting on the 3rd December 2025 at 9:30am.
The report will layout a set of proposals to rationalise Library opening hours, into a set of tiers. Culleni Library will be in the lowest tier and based on a series of criteria, te proposal is to reduce our hours to 10 from 12 per week.
The criteria involves population and footfall plus some other quantitative measure. Basically numeric calculations used to calculate hours. What it misses is the quantitative impact, the added value the service brings to Cullen. initially the calculations meant that Cullen would have had 12 hours as it does now, but some issues have arisen that has brought about the changes.
Two hours may not seem like much, but given the great work the library does with residents in Cullen, its a major loss. In essence the report is asking for permission to go out to public consultation on the proposals. We will have a couple of months to launch a challenge. The community united before to keep the library open, when it was one of seven earmarked for closure. WE CAN FIGHT TO KEP THE HOURS AGAIN>
A recent survey resulted in 22 response , 19 in favour of keeping the 12 hours and 3 in favour of the reduction. Not a huge response but it was before we knew the details.
The community council will discuss the report at its meeting on the 16th December at the Community Centre, we urge people to come along and give their opinions and ask any questions.
The last time we campaigned , every councillor in Moray was contacted and the vast majority were not in favour of closures, we will need to convince them again. This is a ‘Bean-counters’ solution, but the value of the service the library brings is more than just beans.
If you have any comments tore, please use the section below.
The report going to council can be seen here:
National education statistics revealed recently that Moray was a staggering 14% behind other councils with regard to Literacy results. 14%!! Not only is this shocking, it’s embarrassing. Pupils in Moray need this to be urgently addressed. It’s therefore incomprehensible that Moray Council would choose to address this by further reducing library hours anywhere, never mind Cullen. Teacher vacancies continue to go unfilled in Moray: the answer is NOT to decimate our library system.
The Many Benefits of Libraries
1. They’re FREE for everyone.
2. Libraries are fantastic places to get your child engaged in reading.
3. Libraries are not just books: there’s music and dvds available.
4. For those who live alone, a library is company, conversation and a warm welcome.
5. It’s a warm, safe, place for many.
6. Take a step away from technology – a place to
“Detox.”
7: Parents: Heading to the library to spend some time together finding books for shared reading is a gift.
8. No internet access? No smartphone? Head to your library.
9. Need info for a school project or to research the history of something? The library is waiting for you.
10. Need some quiet? Ideal for adults & children.
11. Vast amount of resources, books and supportive librarians.
12. They’re a place to learn new skills! Libraries run sessions and courses for adults and children.
13. Libraries are safe refuges for the homeless and underserved populations.
14.They play an important role in English language learning.
15. They preserve history, and more importantly, truth.
So……. Just some of the benefits of keeping our valuable libraries open.
Versus……
The Council Saving Money 💴
Don’t even get me started on The Benefits of Reading!!
Yes, Lynn is absolutely right in EVERY respect. Thank you, Lynn, for putting it so succinctly!
As above I think Lynn Myles has really covered all that I could think of , point 4 being particularily relevant to me , plus the diverse material to read .
The council are trying to create a formula to justify the hours each library is open. That’s understandable, but it totally missed the value to the community that can’t be measured by numbers. That added value goes beyond a numeric value, its something that takes a long time to realise, but give children a positive experience of libraries and hat stays with them, and is passed on to their children.