Drinkers are brought to book in aid of libraries

FROM Kidnapped and the Hawes Inn to Inspector Rebus and the Oxford Bar, the city's pubs have long been a source of inspiration for novelists.

But now a new initiative is hoping to use Edinburgh's hostelries to inspire a new generation of readers - by turning bars into libraries.

Today Broughton Street's Cask & Barrel was set to play host to staff from the council's library service as they hope to attract both new users and the "lapsed". The move is not too much of a leap of imagination for a city which already boasts a literary pub crawl and a history of characters dreamed up in the Capital's drinking dens.

Patrick Mitchell, manager of the Cask & Barrel - itself just a short distance from the childhood home of Sherlock Holmes creator Sir Arthur Conan Doyle - said he was happy to back the new initiative.

He said: "Libraries offer a vital service to the community so we're delighted to get involved. We have a pretty diverse clientele, some of whom are quite bookish, so I'm sure there will be a lot of interest ."

Earlier this year council bosses ordered a new drive to promote libraries after figures revealed a huge drop in the number of people going through the doors. The study showed 176,961 fewer people entered Edinburgh's 26 libraries in the last year than four years ago.

It comes at the same time as a review is being carried out into how options such as reducing opening hours could help make 602,000 of savings without the need for library closures.

Councillor Deidre Brock, the city's culture and leisure leader, said: "We are keen to raise public awareness of what Edinburgh's libraries are all about.

"There's been quite a bit of publicity around doctors' surgeries going into pubs to encourage hard-to-reach groups, so why not take libraries there too and let our dedicated staff show people just how easy it is to join up and take advantage of all the services, facilities and events on offer?

"Anyone who calls in today will be able find out all they need to know about our award-winning libraries service while enjoying the ambience of their local."

It is hoped the pub event will attract double the number of new library members than would otherwise attend a library on an average Saturday.

Librarians were due to be in the Cask & Barrel, 115 Broughton Street, from 11am-3pm.