The Thomas Graham Library, a pioneering partnership between the local community and Stirling Council, is part of a £1 million hub facility that also includes meeting and social facilities.
It has been largely financed by crowdfunding. A quarter of households in the village – almost 300 families – chose to invest, with the bulk of funding coming from local businessman Angus Graham.
Mr Graham officially opened the new building today (Tuesday, 18 April), which has been named after his great, great uncle Thomas, a renowned 19th century professor of chemistry.
The building is owned and operated by SCDT’s subsidiary, Thomas Graham Library Ltd. (TGLL). The library is leased and operated by Stirling Council in a unique partnership with TGLL.
Councillor Gerry McGarvey, Convenor of Stirling Council’s Community Wellbeing and Housing Committee, said: "This ground-breaking partnership has resulted in the first community-owned public library to be built in Scotland in living memory.
"Local government finances are facing a time of constraint, but this innovative collaboration between the Council and local community provides a solution that gives our libraries a bright future.
"It is a testimony to our joint commitment to learning and partnership work that we have such a wonderful resource now freely available to all in the Strathblane community. It will enrich the lives of all age groups and foster an even greater sense of wellbeing."
First through the doors after Angus Graham pulled the cord were the library’s oldest member Agnes Lyness, (95) and one of its youngest members, three-year-old Ruairidh Balfour, together with children from the adjacent Strathblane Primary School.
Margaret Vass, chair of Strathblane Community Development Trust which organised the fund raising as well as the building’s design and construction, said: “I still can’t really believe we’ve done this.
“It’s the biggest thing we’ve had happen in this village for at least 40 years – now we have this state-of-the-art building for everyone to use and enjoy.
“The fact that most of this huge sum has been donated by local people is really special. It demonstrates both the love that we all have for our brilliant library service, and the wonderful spirit of community support and generosity that exists here in Strathblane.”
Pamela Tulloch, chief executive of the Scottish Libraries and Information Council, added: “This new venue in Strathblane very much brings to life what a 21st century library should be.
“The collaboration between the community and Stirling Council has demonstrated it is possible to provide a future for library services through a non-traditional financial and operational model. I look forward to seeing what this innovative approach to library service delivery brings, not just to Strathblane but to the public library sector in general.”
Pauline Smith, chief executive of the Development Trusts Association Scotland, said: “This is an amazing achievement by Strathblane CDT, and inspirational to other communities throughout Scotland.
“With local authority budgets under increasing pressures, communities are taking ownership of previously statutory run buildings and having to find different ways to finance and bring them back to life and they are succeeding.
“Strathblane community recognises the need for the Council run library within the building but now the community are the landlord of the gorgeous new building. It is a fantastic example of a community anchor and the power of community ownership and leadership.”
