The part-restoration of a distinguished Angus building has been welcomed but “disappointment” has been expressed at its lack of scope.
Funding has been accepted for the reopening of a section of the Inglis Memorial Hall in Edzell, which has been closed since 2010.
However, the lack of an option for its return as a lending library has disappointed some.
At a meeting of the neighbourhood services committee, Brechin and Edzell councillor Mairi Evans expressed her concerns that any lending library seems to have been ruled out.
The building will be turned into a museum with the help of a Rural Tayside Leader grant of £33,300 towards an £88,000 revamp.
Councillor Evans said the council “haven’t budged” on the issue, adding: “This is something that I believe should not be ruled out at this stage but should be looked at and examined in more depth.
“The lending library is the one aspect that people in Edzell really care about.
“A survey was carried out by ELAG (Edzell Library Action Group), which found that 91% of households wanted to see a library back in the Inglis hall.
“There has been a continued drive for a lending library, as well as a museum because people in Edzell want the Inglis Hall, which was left in trust to them, to be a thriving, living building, rather than a facility which caters solely for the occasional tourist.
“There is a village full of people who are desperate to help if we can meet them half way.”
Discussions had been set up between council officers and ELAG three years ago to find a positive outcome for the hall.
Ms Evans added: “The Leader monies have given us a fantastic opportunity and that’s how we need to view it as an opportunity.
“The Inglis Hall is not only a unique asset to Angus but a unique historical asset to UK as a whole a fact widely recognised.
“A new museum feature will compliment this but let’s build on that by fully considering all the options.”
An ELAG counter proposal calling for a combined visitor attraction and lending library was previously dismissed as impractical and “flawed”.
A spokeswoman for ELAG said the group welcomed the prospect of access to the library room but finds it “interesting” capital and revenue have now been found for a museum after the modern library was withdrawn for budget reasons in 2010.
She added: “I am extremely disappointed that the council seem not to have thoroughly considered the ‘combined option’ yet… for virtually the same money they could have had a three-room historical attraction, three rooms would have had their windows restored and the community would have had a better modern library service, staffed by the council.
“Instead, it seems there is only going to be a one-room museum, only one room will have its windows repaired and the community will have to continue to use a mobile van. In addition, the community will have to staff the museum.”
Strategic director for communities Alan McKeown said that despite the council’s budget restraints, officers would be “more than happy” to work with the community and Edzell Library Action Group.
“Regarding the reading room, the Cotgreave system allowed the reading and lending of books in situ and I’d hope this would continue,” he said.