Residents in a Moray village who banded together to open their own library after losing their public service two years ago announced the scheme had failed yesterday.
Hopeman was one of four communities which lost their libraries in November, 2013, due to Moray Council cutbacks.
Villagers who had fought the move opened a volunteer-led replacement at Hopeman Memorial Hall in April last year.
Available three days a week, it attracted 143 members, covering 70 households in the village, and received the support of authors such as Lari Don and Howie Firth, as well as storyteller Michael Williams.
It was also given extra storage space by Moray Housing Partnership in Lossiemouth.
However, yesterday the library volunteers revealed they had been forced to accept defeat in the face of insurmountable difficulties, most notably the lack of suitable permanent premises.
Chairwoman Vivien Hendry said: “I am incredibly sad that Hopeman community library has not worked out.
“As a committee, we gave 100% to try and make a lasting success of the project, investing innumerable volunteer hours.
“We also had support from so many places, especially the authors and Publishing Scotland. However, the lack of a suitable venue for the library proved an insurmountable problem.”
Heldon and Laich councillor Eric McGillivray, who lives in Hopeman, said: “It’s a real shame the library has had to close.
“It’s a loss to the community, especially the older people who used and enjoyed it, and I have to congratulate and commended the community library group for their hard work and the efforts they made.”
The group’s stock of children’s books will be donated to Hopeman Primary School and Lossiemouth High School.
Remaining books will be sold at a sale and coffee morning in Hopeman Memorial Hall on Saturday, July 11, from 10am-noon.