A NEILSTON bookworm has expressed fears for the future of the village’s library after it failed to reopen last week.

Retired nurse Isobel Knox, 82, loves reading and has been a member of Neilston Library for most of her life.

However, when she paid a visit last week after lockdown restrictions were eased, she was disappointed to discover the building was closed.

Isobel said a member of staff advised her to go to the library at the Barrhead Foundry instead and was unable to tell her when the Neilston hub would reopen.

That has set alarm bells ringing with Isobel, who says the library in the village’s Main Street is a lifeline to many members of the community, particularly older residents.

She told the Barrhead News: “I am 82 – why should I have to go all the way to Barrhead with a bag of heavy books and then wait 30 minutes for a bus home?

“It’s so frustrating when you have a library on your doorstep but can’t access any of the books.

“My friends and I have all missed the library while it has been closed.

“Most of us can’t afford to buy books new and charity shops which sell them second-hand have also been closed.”

Isobel, who has two grown-up children and five grandchildren, has a pile of books which were due back in December but she has been unable to return them due to the lockdown.

She usually reads 10 books a week and her favourites are autobiographies and American crime fiction.

Isobel added: “I need books because I don’t sleep much and I read through the night.

“It is really hard when you can’t get to sleep and don’t have a book to read.”

A spokeswoman for East Renfrewshire Culture and Leisure said all of the area’s libraries will eventually reopen but was unable to say when Neilston Library would be able to welcome back borrowers.

She added: “As part of our phased reopening for library services, click and collect is now available at the Barrhead Foundry, Clarkston Library and Giffnock Library.

“Our remaining library services will reopen in due course, in line with government guidance. Our library team is working to automatically renew all library book loans and no fines will be issued during this time.

“Library books can also be returned to Barrhead Library’s ‘drop box’ for returned books.”