Figures showed that there are nearly 2,000 active borrowers registered in the town’s library, but the number of books borrowed is decreasing rapidly.

In 2012/12 and 2013/14 figures remained similar, with a drop of 400 books borrowed - 57,226 and 56,814 respectively.

However, until the end of January this year with only two months left of the financial year, only 39,266 - nearly 18,000 fewer than last year- books have been borrowed.

Councillor Aileen Morton, Policy Lead for Education, Lifelong Learning, and Strategic IT Services, said that book lending was 'just a part’ of the services the library offered.

She said: “I’ve been a member of Helensburgh Library since I was a child and the use of the Library has changed significantly over that time.

“Helensburgh Library provides all kinds of services and supports that people need nowadays and is well used, with book-borrowing being just a part of it.

“The list of activities in the Library includes parents and toddlers participating in Fun First sessions, students accessing Argyll College courses, art exhibitions and local residents reviewing planning application paperwork – so there is nearly always something going on.

“I run my Council surgery in Helensburgh Library once a month, in a room normally used by the Careers Service and by the end of the year the Library will also host the MacMillan Cancer Information and Support Service.

“The Council’s library service has also recognised that many people now prefer to access reading material online and provides an eBook service which allows library members to download eBooks for free.” A spokeswoman for Argyll and Bute Council said: “The number of people visiting libraries in Argyll and Bute increased by 10 per cent last year – despite the fact that nationally, library book borrowing has reduced over the past few years.

“In Argyll and Bute we are increasing the development of our libraries as centres for community activities, including author visits, Bookbug sessions, learning opportunities, internet access, free Wi-Fi and a range of different events.” Money raised from fines, however, have increased - with two months of the financial year still to come.

The library raised £1,267 in 2013/2014 in fines, and thus far in this financial period, fines have totalled £1,300.