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Cardonald Library - Save Our Library Posts

Where ARE our MSPs? Round Two.

Published 10/04/2026 by Admin Admin

Back in February 2025, I wrote an article highlighting something that surprised many people: only one of our local MSPs attended the “Save Local Libraries” bill debate.

That MSP was Paul Sweeney (Labour).

At a time when local libraries — including Cardonald Library — face uncertain futures, you would expect strong attendance and engagement from those elected to represent us. Instead, most were absent.

Now, with the 2026 Scottish Parliament election approaching, I thought it would be useful to take a second look — who is standing again, and who isn’t?

Because if this issue matters to you, it’s worth asking:

If they didn’t attend then — why would they act now?

Who Is Standing Again?

Here’s where things currently stand:

Standing Down

  • Humza Yousaf (SNP) — Standing down
  • Pam Duncan-Glancy (Labour) — Standing down (also currently suspended from the Labour Party)

These MSPs will not be seeking re-election in 2026.

Running for 2026

These MSPs are standing again in 2026:

  • Patrick Harvie (Greens) — Running for 2026
  • Anas Sarwar (Labour) — Running for 2026
  • Annie Wells (Conservative) — Running for 2026
  • Sandesh Gulhane (Conservative) — Running for 2026
  • Pauline McNeill (Labour) — Running for 2026

And finally:

  • Paul Sweeney (Labour) — The ONLY MSP who attended the Save Local Libraries Bill — Running for 2026

Make an Informed Choice

This post isn’t about telling anyone how to vote.

It’s simply about providing information so you can make an informed decision — especially if the future of local libraries is important to you.

Because ultimately, representation is about showing up.

And in February 2025, only one MSP did.

Mike McKirdy – Potential Labour MSP

Published 14/03/2026 by Admin Admin

For many residents in Cardonald, the prolonged closure of Cardonald Library has become a symbol of frustration. Despite funding being approved and works expected to begin, progress has been slow. Local people who value the library as a community hub — a place for learning, connection, and support — continue to wait.

In February, I contacted Labour candidate Mike McKirdy, who is seeking election as MSP for Renfrewshire North and Cardonald. The email was simple: if elected, how would he help reopen Cardonald Library, and what would make his approach different from previous Labour representatives?

I expressed disappointment with Labour’s engagement on the issue so far. After previously contacting the local Labour MP, I felt communication dropped significantly once the election had been won. At the same time, a key “Save Local Libraries” vote saw only one of four Labour MSPs from the area attend.

For residents watching the delays unfold, these moments raise an uncomfortable question:

What is the value of labour support in saving Cardonald Library?

McKirdy acknowledged that the issue had already been raised on the doorsteps while canvassing locally. He emphasised that responsibility for the library ultimately sits with Glasgow City Council, and that delays from the council have become, in his words, “sadly the norm.”

However, he also set out what he described as a practical approach if elected.

McKirdy pledged that he would seek direct, in-person meetings with council officials and elected councillors to establish clear plans for the library’s progress. Drawing on his previous experience working with Glasgow City Council through education roles — including six years as chair of a parents’ group and service as a school board vice-chair — he argued that consistent, face-to-face engagement is often the most effective way to push projects forward.

He also committed to working with local residents to lobby the council for faster completion and said he would support — or initiate if necessary — parliamentary efforts aimed at improving local library services.

For many residents, these words will sound positive. But Cardonald has heard commitments before.

The reopening of Cardonald Library matters because libraries are far more than buildings filled with books. They are community anchors — places where children discover reading, students find quiet study space, families attend events, and residents access digital services and local support.

The question now is whether this latest promise will translate into real action.

If elected, Mike McKirdy has pledged to push Glasgow City Council directly and consistently to deliver progress on Cardonald Library. The real test, however, will come after the election — when the campaign leaflets are gone and the work of holding institutions to account begins.

Cardonald does not need another promise. It needs its library back.

February 2026 Update: Official Response Confirms Many More Months of Waiting

Published 07/02/2026 by Admin Admin

I have now received a formal response via Alison Taylor MP regarding the future of Cardonald Library. A copy of the Glasgow Life reply can be downloaded at the bottom of this post.

The letter, dated January 2025, comes from Glasgow Life and outlines their current plans for the building following the discovery of dangerous RAAC concrete in the roof.

What Does the Document Actually Say?

According to the response:

  • The library was closed due to safety risks caused by RAAC concrete in the roof.
  • A structural report has been completed and specialist consultants have been appointed.
  • Enabling works such as scaffolding and protection measures were planned to begin in early 2025.
  • The main construction contract is not expected to be awarded until June 2026.
  • Actual building work is scheduled to begin in July 2026.
  • There is currently no budget for a temporary replacement library.

In simple terms: although investigations and planning are ongoing, major repair work is not expected to even begin until mid-2026 — more than three years after the library first closed.

What This Means for Cardonald

This timeline is deeply disappointing.

Cardonald Library has now been shut for years. For many residents, it was more than just a place to borrow books. It was:

  • A community hub
  • A quiet space for study
  • A resource for children and families
  • A lifeline for people without home internet
  • A safe, welcoming public space

Yet, according to this letter, we looking unliekly to see any real construction work start beofre July— and even longer before reopening.

If work begins in July 2026, completion could easily stretch into 2027 or beyond.

That means a whole generation of local children could grow up without ever using their local library.

No Temporary Solution

Perhaps most worrying is the admission that there is no funding for a temporary replacement library.

Residents are instead directed to Ibrox Library or online services.

While these alternatives are better than nothing, they are not realistic substitutes for many people — especially older residents, parents with young children, or those without easy transport.

A community the size of Cardonald deserves better than “use another area’s library”.

What Happens Next?

The letter promises further updates once contractors are appointed.

That is welcome — but words are no longer enough.

Cardonald Library matters. Our community matters.

Download Glasgow Life Response to Alison Taylor Here [PDF]

What Is Happening with Cardonald Library? [2026]

Published 09/01/2026 by Admin Admin

It has now been over two years since Cardonald Library closed due to concerns around RAAC (Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete). While the original closure was necessary on safety grounds, the prolonged lack of visible progress since then has become a growing concern for the local community.

This public blog on this issue wht Cardonald Library was published more than a year ago, with hopes that a clear plan and timeline would follow from Glasgow Life. Since then, funding has been granted, which should have marked a significant milestone. However, we are now nearly a year on from funding being agreed, and progress appears slow at best.

The most recent public update — shared via Facebook — states that remedial works could take up to 18 months to complete once work starts on site. This distinction is important. At present, there is no visible evidence of works having commenced on site: no construction activity and no clear start date communicated to residents.

If on-site work has yet to begin, it raises serious questions about the overall timeline. Based on the information currently available, reopening before 2028 increasingly feels optimistic rather than realistic.

What further compounds frustration is the lack of regular, transparent communication. Beyond occasional social media updates, there have been no material public briefings explaining:

  • when works are expected to start,
  • what the key stages of the project are,
  • or when the community can realistically expect the library to reopen.

Libraries are not optional assets. They are vital community spaces that support literacy, digital access, learning, and social connection. Extended closures without clear communication risk eroding public trust and disengaging the very communities these services are meant to serve.

There is also concern around responsiveness and accountability. An email sent to Alison Taylor MP almost a year ago regarding the library has still not received a response. While delays can happen, prolonged silence only reinforces the perception that this issue is not being treated with the urgency it deserves. This is something residents may reasonably reflect on when considering future support for the Labour Party at a local level.

In the coming days, I will be seeking clarity from relevant parties, including local MPs, MSPs, and councillors, and submitting a Freedom of Information request to Glasgow Life to better understand:

  • the current status of the project,
  • confirmed timelines,
  • and the reasons behind the ongoing delays.

We are not asking for the impossible — simply clarity, accountability, and visible progress. Clear timelines, regular updates, and evidence of activity on site would go a long way toward restoring confidence that Cardonald Library will reopen within a reasonable and transparent timeframe.

Until then, the question remains entirely fair:
what is actually happening with Cardonald Library?

Glasgow City Council Confirms £1.2M Funding for Cardonald Library Reopening

Published 23/02/2025 by Admin Admin

Glasgow City Council has confirmed full funding of £1.2 million to reopen Cardonald Library, marking a significant step toward restoring the valued community facility.

The announcement comes as a welcome surprise to many local residents and campaigners who had been uncertain about the library’s future. While the funding commitment is now in place, I imagine some remain cautious, sand will only fully believe it once the doors officially reopen.

I had placed efforts to explore temporary provisions while awaiting a final decision. However, with the funding now secured, this blog focus will shift to tracking the timeline for the library’s reopening. Further updates on progress and key milestones will be shared as they become available.

Where are our MSPs?

Published 06/02/2025 by Admin Admin

If there was ever a time for our local and regional MSP’s to step up… it could have been now! A bill aptly called “Save Local Libraries”. So how many of our local and regional MSP’s ‘supported’ it? (SPOILER: ONE)

Only ONE person supported it. Paul Sweeney from Labour.

Absolutely astounded by the results of this. Do labour support this cause as a party? Only 20% of them could support this bill?

No Shows for record:

Humza Yousaf – Labour – OUR LOCAL MSP!!!!

Pam Duncan-Glancy – Labour

Pauline McNeill – Labour

Anas Sarwar – Labour

Patrick Harvie – Greens

Sandesh Gulhane – Conservatives

Annie Wells – Conservatives

Glasgow City Council Budget 2025/26

Published 04/02/2025 by Admin Admin

It’s been over a month since my last post, and I stumbled on this post on the “Gies back our books” facebook group for Cardonald Library.

I said in my last post we are approaching the “business end” of Cardonald Library’s fate. It does indeed look like by the end of Feb we will find out what is happening. This is due to Glasgow City Council finalising their budget this month.

What do we think will be Cardonalds fate? My concern is the silence is defeaning from anyone in a position to help.

My Local Labour MP Alison Taylor on Cardonald Library #2

Published 02/02/2025 by Admin Admin
My Local Labour MP Alison Taylor on Cardonald Library #2

I thought I would provide an update to my post in November with my correspondance with my Local MP.

I received an email back in November, but have since not heard a peep in over 2 months.

The original response I received included a letter Alison had received back from Glasgow Life. The letter was dated 3rd October, I received a copy of mid November. The letter advised they were awaiting a funding decision on the library but also hoped a temporary solution could be found. Alison advised she would follow up.

Since then, i have not heard anything. I have emailed 3 times. I asked if she would show support and attend a protest (twice). I also asked if she received a response from Glasgow City Council.

I think its fair to say, I dont expect to have to follow up my MP multiple times. Dissapointing.

Gies Back Our Books – Sign The Petition

Published 01/02/2025 by Admin Admin
Gies Back Our Books – Sign The Petition

The community group has created a petition to support Cardonald Library. I think its safe to say its showing their are a lot of people who support the cause! Please go an sign it, show people that its loved by many folk. CLICK HERE TO FOR LINK TO SIGN.

I would also like to praise the group for their efforts with supporting Cardonald Library. Louise and other folk are in the trenches making noise and keeping the fight alive. Keep it up!

Update: Freedom Of Information Request

Published 18/12/2024 by Admin Admin

I submitted a freedom of information request to Glasgow Life last month regarding the costs and I received a reply!

Unsurpsingly, the request was declined! However, the reason for the rejection is interesting. They declined it under FOI law that if they are planning to publicly share that information within three months. The three months is from the date of my request (late November). So by late February, I am anticipating the costings to rectify Cardonald Library to be made public.

I think we are approaching the business end of Cardonald Library’s fate.