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.
