LIBRARY services have been among the first to face the axe when councils decide to trim hard-pressed budgets in recent years.

Last week it was revealed that the trust which runs Glasgow's civic sports and culture facilities intends to reduce the number of hours its libraries open each week.

Glasgow Life said that it intended to reduce the opening hours of many of the 33 buildings in its charge by as much as 12 hours per week.

Last year campaigners trying to stop Moray Council closing almost half its libraries said they would take their challenge to the Court of Session.

And in Edinburgh plans to restrict six libraries' opening hours were shelved in 2012 after more than 10,000 people backed calls to keep them open.