Freedom Of Information data released by Live Life Aberdeenshire shows — with no room for argument — that Stonehaven Library is thriving and vital.
The figures demonstrate the building is not simply a place to borrow books, but a multi‑service community hub delivering a wide range of activities at the heart of the town. The scale of use shown in the FOI responses highlights how closely the service and the community depend on the space, layout and visibility of the current building.
As a Stonehaven resident fighting to keep our current library, I believe the FOI evidence simply confirms what the community has long understood: the current building is essential to the service’s success. Book issues have climbed from 16,190 in 2021–22 to 25,013 in 2025–26,
This is a 54% rise no alternative site could realistically match.
Children’s borrowing remains exceptionally strong.
Across the last two years alone, the FOI data shows 25,875 issues of children’s and young people’s books — from picture books and early‑years starters to junior fiction, non‑fiction and young adult titles. At a time when so much of life is digital, these figures show that local children are still reading in large numbers, and that the library continues to play an important role in supporting literacy, learning and family life in a high‑tech world.
The Save Stonehaven Library Coalition – a team of very concerned locals – fear that relocating the service to Viewmount could undermine this strength, as the current building’s space, layout and visibility are central to how families use the library.
A wide range of events and activities
The FOI responses show that Stonehaven Library delivers a continuous, high‑intensity programme of activity for children, families, adults, schools and community groups. Although the events dataset supplied to the Coalition is truncated part‑way through 2023–24 — meaning no events data for 2024–25 or 2025–26 was provided — the portion that is available already demonstrates a level of use that few community buildings could sustain.
In the visible section of the 2023–24 data alone, the library delivered 53 events, drawing 478 attendees. This includes 179 pupils on school visits, 205 children from nursery groups, 98 adults attending talks, workshops and health sessions, and 96 participants at family and children’s craft and activity sessions. These figures represent only part of one year — the real totals will be significantly higher — yet even this partial snapshot shows a building operating at full stretch.
The programme is strikingly broad. Bookbug sessions regularly draw 10–20 families on a weekly basis, while the Heritage Group attracts up to 26 participants. After‑school craft clubs, Lego Club, digital skills classes, health and wellbeing sessions, holiday activities and outreach to care homes all run throughout the year, reflecting the library’s role as a genuine multi‑service hub.
Local schools and nurseries depend heavily on the library’s space and layout. Arduthie, Mill O’ Forest, Carronhill and several nurseries visit frequently, often bringing classes of 30–44 pupils at a time. These visits rely on the size, accessibility and visibility of the current building — the only venue in the town centre capable of hosting large groups, multiple activities and high‑footfall events simultaneously.
Even with incomplete data, the FOI evidence is unmistakable: Stonehaven Library is a thriving, high‑use community hub whose activity levels cannot be replicated in a smaller or less visible building.
What the data confirms
The FOI data shows a library building supporting everything from school groups and early‑years sessions to digital skills classes, activities for elderly and vulnerable residents, and the year‑round use of its windows by community organisations.
With no update yet from Aberdeenshire Council on its recent “engagement exercise”, the figures clearly show a thriving, well‑used service. On the basis of the FOI data, we are certain the relocation to Viewmount is a non‑starter, as the overwhelming evidence demonstrates the need to retain the library in its current building
Our campaign is not about confrontation but about cooperation. We want to work with the Council to find a solution that protects a service and building the whole town relies on.
If you wish to sign the community petition, it can be found here: Save Stonehaven Library – Sign the Petition to Stop the Relocation – Fill out form