SCOTTISH and UK officials have applauded an East Renfrewshire woman for her “brilliant” street library service, allowing locals to access books, DVDs and video games during lockdown.

West Scotland MSP Ross Greer and East Renfrewshire MP Kirsten Oswald both launched separate motions to recognise the valuable work 22-year-old Freya Young has delivered to her community in Eaglesham.

In a tweet, Ms Oswald said: “Really pleased to lay down an EDM [early day motion] to congratulate Freya Young for the amazing initiative that is #Eaglesham Street Library. She has done a power of work in making this brilliant library service available to the communities of Eaglesham and #Waterfoot, and made a real difference."

MSP Greer said: “A friend told me about the great work these two organisations have been doing and I wanted to make sure their brilliant work was recognised nationally.

“This has been a challenging time and groups like the Street Library and Helping Hands have been a lifeline to so many people, holding the community together. I’m glad that we could recognise that in Parliament.”

Freya, a recent Masters in International Business and Modern Languages graduate, set up the Eaglesham Street Library after seeing the spiralling costs of buying new books every time she wanted to read – and that was a lot during lockdown.

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The success of the initiative has meant locals - who do not have access to the library because of the lockdown - can read without financial or health barriers.

Freya was delighted to hear she had been recognised through motions not only in Holyrood but Westminster too.

She said: "It was so lovely. It's such a crazy thing. Unbelievable.

"It all started when I finished my masters and the grad job I had lined up got cancelled. I was reading loads of book and ordering loads off amazon. After the 4th or 5th books I thought 'this is so much money'.

“I knew my granny was shielding and she wanted books and I thought there would be lots of people in the village in that same position.”

Freya said her local library is very popular but will not be opening until August 11 – and even then it will be for two days a week and for click and collect only.

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"For people that aren’t online, like the elderly people I’ve been dropping books off to, they still won’t be able to get books once the library reopens,” she continued.

"I wanted to get people books but make it safe for everyone. Me and my mum went around and leafleted all the sheltered housing for people who might not be on the Facebook page and we had loads of phone calls from elderly people.

"There was one wee man who is disabled and lives with his wee dog. His wife died a few years ago and said he's been lost without books. He had taken out four books from the library the week it closed and read each four times.

"There was also a lady on who was in Hong Kong and asked if I could go drop off books to her elderly mother who wasn't on Facebook.”

On average, 50 to 60 people take out books per week. Around 400 adult books have been donated and 100 children’s books.

Glasgow Times: One resident donated 23 children's books bringing the total number in Freya's collection to 100One resident donated 23 children's books bringing the total number in Freya's collection to 100

“My wee house is bursting at the seams,” Freya said.

Books, DVDs, games, CDs, stationery and everything else the street library has to offer are available for collection every Friday and Saturday 10am to 9pm outside Montgomerie Hall in Eaglesham.

All items are packaged, sanitised and quarantined after each loan in line with public health guidance.