Saltire Library, Glasgow Caledonian University image

Welcome to SLAINTE

SLAINTE is an online service for library and information professionals in Scotland. The website combines the work of the two professional bodies for librarians in Scotland: the Scottish Library and Information Council (SLIC) and the Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals in Scotland (CILIPS).

SLIC is the independent advisory body to the Scottish Government on library matters. CILIPS is the Scottish arm of CILIP, the professional body for individual librarians and information professionals in the UK.

The two organisations work together to support individuals and organisations working within information services. SLAINTE combines the output of both organisations to offer Scottish librarians a single entry point to relevant information, resources and services.

To find out more about the individual organisations, go directly to the SLIC and CILIPS webpages.

Membership area

How to join CILIPS (for individuals) or SLIC (for organisations).

CILIPS members

Information Scotland is the online journal published by CILIPS.

Special Interest Groups

CILIPS Branches

Central, East, North and North East

Information Scotland

Information Scotland is the journal of CILIPS, which has moved to a new online format for 2010. Older editions can be found in our online archive.

SLIC members

Key membership benefits include:

Advocacy for Scottish library and information services
Access to advice, information and support of SLIC officers, including up to 3 days free consultancy
Innovation and Development Fund for members only
Member events, including FE Annual Conference and Service Innovation Showcase
Support for sectoral needs through SCURL, the Heads of Public Library Services, the Heads of School Library Services and the SLIC FE Working Group
Free newsletters, SLIC Standards and Guidance publications and annual reports
Development of quality improvement frameworks, standards and self-evaluation toolkits
Strategic direction for the Scottish Common Information Environment
Opportunity to be part of and contribute to projects building co-ordination, collaboration and co-operation
Consultation on workforce development

Library themes

Ask Scotland: Scotland's public library virtual reference service, Ask Scotland launched by historian and television presenter Neil Oliver in August 2010.
Access and Equity: guidelines on current legislation within a library context
Equality and Diversity: an overview of policy and legislation, a practical toolkit and examples of good practice
Freedom of Information: details of how the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act affects the library and information sector
Inclusive Services: up-to-date information about materials and resources which can improve the accessibility of library services
Information Literacy: toolkit produced by CILIPS working group of information professionals directly involved with developing information literacy
Intellectual Property Rights and Copyright: includes sections on copyright legislation, copyright and electronic resources and licensing
Web2.0 Guidelines: features practical support and guidance for implementing Web2.0 in library services

If there is a specific topic you would like to see covered, please use our online form to suggest a theme.

Library sectors

SLAINTE offers information and resources for librarians in different sectors of the profession. Select your area of work to find the most relevant materials.

Public libraries: Including Public Library Quality Improvement Matrix (PLQIM), reader development...more
School libraries: Including Improving Libraries for Learners, Published Dec 2009, HMIe Inspection documents...more
Further Education libraries: Service development and Self-Evaluation for library and information services in Scottish Further Education colleges Published Dec 2009, Managing Digital Assets in Tertiary Education toolkit (mandate), Developing cross sector library services, Resources
Higher Education libraries: SLIC continues to support the Scottish Confederation of University and Research Libraries (SCURL), the principal association of research libraries in Scotland.

SLIC would like to develop specific content for librarians working in specialised services, within the health sector, charities or corporate information centres for example. If you would like to contribute to this work, please complete our online form.

Scotland's Information: use our map to find libraries, museums and archives
Research Collections Online: subject strength listings for the larger general libraries in Scotland
Scottish Library and Information Resources: find a library, librarian, museum or archive
Scottish Distributed Digital Library: digital collections with Scottish themes
Scottish Collections Network: an online catalogue of collections held in Scottish libraries, museums and archives
Co-operative Information Retrieval Network for Scotland: a one-stop shop for finding materials held in the collections of many libraries in Scotland

blog: following organisational and general library developments
flickr: SLIC and CILIPS image archive
delicious: library and information bookmarks
slideshare: presentations from CPD events and activities
twitter: follow our updates on the micro-blog
YouTube: SLIC and CILIPS videos