Question reference: S6W-14445
- Asked by: Miles Briggs, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
- Date lodged: 27 January 2023
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Current status: Answered by Neil Gray on 7 February 2023
Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many libraries have closed in each year since 2009.
Answer
Public Library services in Scotland are devolved to local authorities which have a statutory duty to secure the provision of adequate library facilities for all persons resident in their area.
No Scottish Libraries have permanently closed in the last three reporting years. The following table from the Scottish Library and Information Council provides data, compiled by the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (CIPFA), capturing the number of service points and net increase / decrease per year between 2009-10 – 2021-22. Information for 2022-23 will be available at the end of the current financial year.
Year | Total Service Points | Net Increase/decrease |
2009-2010 | 627 | 0 |
2010-2011 | 619 | -8 |
2011-2012 | 610 | -9 |
2012-2013 | 606 | -4 |
2013-2014 | 609 | 0 |
2014-2015 | 603 | -3 |
2015-2016 | 588 | -15 |
2016-2017 | 558 | -30 |
2017-2018 | 556 | -2 |
2018-2019 | 543 | -13 |
2019-2020 | 544 | +1 |
2020-2021 | 544 | 0 |
2021-2022 | 544 | 0 |