FIRST Minister Nicola Sturgeon has responded personally to the author of The Gruffalo following a direct a plea to save the role of school librarians in Scotland.

Acclaimed writer Julia Donaldson warned that moves to cut school librarians against tightening education budgets would lead to "a decline in literacy".

In a response to the author's plea, Ms Sturgeon backed the role of school librarians but stopped short of overstepping local authorities' own choice of spending their allocation.

Ms Donaldson raised concerns over plans to cut school librarians in a number of areas including Argyll and Bute as a result of budget constraints.

The First Minister wrote back to Ms Donaldson in a letter that included a handwritten sign off from Ms Sturgeon.

The letter read: "I fully recognise the important role school libraries play in supporting reading attainment.

"The role a librarian plays in encouraging positive attitudes to reading and enhancing information literacy skills for our learners is a very important one and one that I would hope local authorities recognise.

"Scottish Ministers will continue to encourage local authorities and schools to make full use of school libraries as they work to raise attainment and improve literacy rates."

The First Minister goes on: "I take your concerns about a decline in literacy very seriously.

"I would like to assure you that we are committed to doing everything we can to ensure children and young people get the best start in life.

"This means that we want them to get high quality early learning and childcare before they go to school and the best education when they are at school."

However the First Minister adds: "As you will be aware, the responsibility for the delivery of education rests with local authorities."

She said £100m of funding next year raised from Council Tax reforms would be shared among 95 per cent of public funded schools for education.

In signing off, Ms Sturgeon wrote: "Many thanks for getting in touch. Please don't hesitate to do so again at any time. Best wishes."

Ms Donaldson said she would be responding to the First Minister by letter in which she would be "reiterating my suggestion that library/librarian provision in secondary schools should be a statutory government requirement".

Ms Donaldson was among a number of writers including James Robertson and Christopher Brookmyre who raised concerns over school librarian roles.