CAMPAIGNERS determined to safeguard the future of South Side libraries are marking their 40th week of protests.

Residents living near Langside, Govanhill and Pollokshields libraries have been staging weekly read-ins outside the buildings in a bid to show how important they are to communities.

But despite months of petitioning Glasgow Life for answers about when the three local hubs will reopen, the Save Our Libraries campaign groups have been met with silence.

Library regulars in Pollokshields are particularly concerned as the building was already closed before lockdown for vital repairs.

And Glasgow Life, the arm's-length council body charged with looking after the libraries, will not say if works are back underway.

Anna Kavinksy, one of the Pollokshields protestors, said: "The roof had been leaking for quite a significant period of time and so Pollokshields Library closed before lockdown for significant repairs.

"When there was no sign of work getting done post-lockdown everyone started getting a bit nervous because we don't know if it's being left to carry on rotting away or if repair works are planned and no one will tell us."

Residents began holding socially distanced read-ins outside the library every Saturday morning from 11am until noon to let Glasgow Life and the city council know the hub had not been forgotten.

Glasgow Times:

While other libraries around the city had begun to reopen, there was no date for the reopening of the three South Side libraries, which are all Carnegie libraries.

There had been some suggestion that the age of the buildings made it difficult for social distancing safeguards to be put in place.

But Glasgow Life has refused to be drawn on when the libraries might open.

When contacted by the Glasgow Times for this story, the organisation said all libraries would close until at least December 11 due to the level four restrictions.

A spokeswoman added: "Once Glasgow moves back into level three restrictions, our priority will be reopening the 11 libraries that have opened over the past four months.

"Notwithstanding the significant £25.5 million losses we are forecasting this financial year, we are continuing to work with Glasgow City Council to review and prioritise when and where more libraries can reopen and we will share more information as soon as we are in a position to do so."

Glasgow Life did not respond to questions asking if work was underway to repair Pollokshields Library.

Anna said: "There is still a good turn out to the read-ins, even on days when the rain is dripping down your nose

"This is the one place in Pollokshields were I can genuinely say I have met people from all walks of life and it is a really well used facility.

"All we are looking for is some clarity around its future - Glasgow does not have a good history of looking after its old buildings and we don't want Pollokshields Library to be left to crumble beyond repair."

Alishia Farnan set up a petition to call for a clear commitment from Glasgow Life to reopen Govanhill Library.

Her online petition now has nearly 8000 signatures and received the backing of the Scottish Green Party.

Alishia said: "I think it's ridiculous there's not been any updates or extra information since the petition launched in August.

"Govanhill Library is really critical in a community where there are many low income households and people rely on its services."

The B-listed Langside Library celebrated its centenary in 2015 and underwent repairs the following year.

Glasgow Times:

Locals there are also worried at the lack of clarity from Glasgow Life and have also been holding read-ins.

Campaigner Henrietta Eagle-Wilsher said: "I feel we have been fobbed off with different reasons from the council for our library not being opened.

"When you lose a local library you do not get it back. If the government can find money to support businesses, they should be able to find money to protect our libraries."