World Book Day delivers a damaging blow for libraries across South Ayrshire

Dundonald, Coylton and Dailly libraries are the three facing the chop with the council hoping to provide book lending services from the mobile library and working with communities to prove alternative Wi-fi provision.

Men, women and children all turned out to protest against the closure of the library in Dundonald which was met with disappointment by Arthur Spurling - chair of the Dundonald Community Council.

Arthur said: "At the end of the day the children in the school will suffer the most.

"There are over 100 children who regularly use it, never mind the elderly people who also use the library frequently.

"The heart of our community is being taken away by people who just don't care what's happening here.

"I really feel that the education of our rural children doesn't matter to these stubborn people in the council."

The cutting of these three local services will save South Ayrshire a total of £47,263.

However, other libraries are also feeling the strain.

It was revealed during the South Ayrshire budget that a further TEN libraries would have it's hours reduced.

Alloway, Ballantrae, Carnegie, Forehill, Girvan, Maybole, Mossblown, Symington, Tarbolton and Troon libraries are facing having reduced opening hours saving the council only £100,805.

Leader of South Ayrshire Council, Cllr Bill McIntosh said last week: "This has been, without a doubt, the most difficult budget we've ever had to agree as a council.

"It's totally unacceptable that it's our people and communities who have to face the impact of the deliberate decision made by the Scottish Government to hit council funding so harshly."

Cllr Robin Reid, Portfolio Holder for Resources and Performance said: As tough as it's been to make the necessary decisions to balance the budget we've taken to only course of action open to us to protect the best interests of the people of South Ayrshire and that's what we will continue to do, day in and day out."