The Scottish Library and Information Council (SLIC) is pleased to announce Board approval for three proposals submitted under the Innovation and Development Fund (IDF) call. The successful projects are:
Dumfries and Galloway’s library, information and archive service has been awarded one of the highest performance scores in Scotland following its recent Public Libraries Quality Improvement Matrix (PLQIM) evaluation. As part of the PLQIM process, the Scottish Library and Information Council (SLIC) carried out two assessments in March which focused on access to information and ethos and values. In the former category, Dumfries and Galloway was rated very good in three areas: sufficiency, range and sustainability of resources and arrangements for access. Under the ethos and values section they received a rating of very good for sense of identity, reception and atmosphere. The evaluation will continue over the next two years when the library service will be assessed using the remaining five PLQIM indicators. Added: 27 Apr
The shortlist for the 2009 CILIP Carnegie Medal was announced on Fri 24 Apr. The theme of growing up provides a unifying theme for the seven books on this year’s shortlist, which are: Cosmic by Frank Cottrell Boyce, Black Rabbit Summer by Kevin Brooks, Airman by Eoin Colfer, Bog Child by Siobhan Dowd, Ostrich Boys by Keith Gray, The knife of never letting go by Patrick Boyd and Creature of the night by Kate Thompson.
Now in its 72nd year, the CILIP Carnegie Medal the UK’s oldest award for children’s writing. Nominations for the long list are submitted by librarians from across the UK, with 12 librarians from CILIP’s Youth Libraries Group deciding the shortlist. The Carnegie Medal and its sister award, the Kate Greenaway Medal, are awarded annually by CILIP. The winners will be announced at a ceremony at BAFTA in central London on Thursday 25 June. Added: 24 Apr
Organisations across Scotland, including public libraries, are preparing for Silver Surfers’ Day, which will take place on 15 May. The event aims to help older people go online and make the most of the benefits technology can offer. Silver Surfer events are already planned at libraries in Perth & Kinross, Fort William and Edinburgh. BBC Scotland will also offer two half day sessions to learn about interviewing and editing audio on the computer. The Silver Surfers’ website will also host a live online event on 15 May. Added: 22 Apr
Aberdeen City Libraries has re-published a 100 year old guide to mark the Year of Homecoming. The 1909 Avery Pictorial Guide contains fascinating photographs, advertisements and places of interest, bringing the Aberdeen of 100 years ago back to life. The guidebook, which cost one penny when it was first published, described itself at the time as a "pleasing Souvenir of the Silver City by the Sea". The reprint was officially launched at the Central Library by Aberdeen Lord Provost Peter Stephen on Wed Apr 1. Copies are now on sale in all libraries, priced GBP3.00.
Aberdeen has produced a great variety of visitor and holiday guides, reflecting its popularity as a holiday resort, many of which are held in the Local Studies collection. A selection will be on display in the Central Library Information Centre during April, along with souvenirs of Aberdeen kindly loaned by Museums and Galleries. Added: 15 Apr
Following representations from CILIPS, SLIC, the School Library Association and others, the Curriculum for Excellence Literacy across Learning Principles and Practice now includes the following statement: "It is expected that the literacy experiences and outcomes, and this accompanying paper, will be read by a range of practitioners, including those who work in school library resource centres, who make an enormous contribution to the development of the literacy skills of children and young people."Added: 16 Apr
The Edinburgh Reading Champion Project has been shortlisted for the 2009 CILIP Libraries Change Lives Award. Also shortlisted are Sustainable services and support for families of children with Autistic Spectrum Disorders, Leeds Library and Information Service, and the Six Book Challenge, the Reading Agency in association with Costa Coffee.
The winner of the award will be announced by the 2008-2009 Poet Laureate and Chair of the Museums Libraries and Archives Council, Andrew Motion, at Umbrella 2009.
Linda Constable, Chair of the Judges, comments on this year’s shortlist, “I’m thrilled with the quality of the shortlisted projects. They demonstrate that libraries really do change lives and can positively affect the communities they serve.” Added: 15 Apr
Passport to Another World is Career Development Group Scottish Division's latest reading challenge, following on from the success of Passport to Latin America in 2008, members and friends are invited you to take up and new challenges and travel with us to Another World.....
Participants are challenged to read 3 books on either Science Fiction, Fantasy or wherever their imagination takes them and to sponsor themselves at least GBP5.00. All registered participants will be entered into a prize draw to win a GBP25.00 book token. The challenge runs until 31 Aug 2009. Download the registration formAdded: 15 Apr
Scottish Book Trust announced the prize-winning story in their Creative Writing Competition was The Death Predictor by Emma from St. Andrew's and St. Bride's High School. The runners up were Mathias (Alone) and Louise (The Heat of Time). The stories can be read online. The announcement was made at a special ceremony at the National Library of Scotland. The shortlisted writers were presented with a book of their stories, and Emma personally presented a copy for the NLS collection. Added: 14 Apr
Peter Grant, Honorary Vice President of the Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals in Scotland died at home on Sat 11 Apr. Peter was a senior figure in Scottish librarianship who started his career in Greenock , progressed to Lanark County Libraries and went on to become Depute City Librarian and then City Librarian in Aberdeen. He retired in 1988. His considerable commitment to the development of the profession involved him as a part-time lecturer in the Scottish School of Librarianship (1959-67), editor of the journal SLA News (1961-67), Press Officer for the Scottish Library Association (1968-72), Secretary of the North Branch (1968-72), SLA Council from 1974 and finally SLA President in 1978. He was awarded Honorary Membership and went on to become an Honorary Vice President, a special role which recognises outstanding contribution to the profession in Scotland.
Looking back at his Presidential Address from 1978, he noted that ‘Libraries are from time to time affected by passing fashions ‘but went on to talk about improving libraries in a way familiar to those encouraging the development of retail techniques. He urged colleagues to look beyond preserving the mysteries of library organisation and to encourage self service, to learn from retail how to ‘sell’ materials and to resist all temptation for amateur art work; to ‘get as much material as possible out of the library and into the homes of people’. He is survived by his wife, Betty, and son, Alan. Added: 15 Apr
The Scottish branch of international writers’ organization, PEN, invites refugees, asylum seekers, and others whose first language is not English to submit writing inspired by the theme of 'Home'. The best work will be selected by members of Scottish PEN's Writers in Exile Committee, with priority being given to work from refugees and asylum seekers. The selection will be presented on the PEN and Scottish Refugee Council’s web-sites where it should receive wide readership during Refugee Week (15-21 Jun 2009). Work must be submitted by Fri 15 May 2009.Added: 14 Apr
Parents and their babies can now join in the fun of ‘Bookstart Rhymetimes’ in every Edinburgh library, thanks to the provision of in-depth training resources and Bookstart Rhymetime toolkits, funded by the Scottish Arts Council. The free sessions, which involve action rhymes, songs and stories for 0 to 3 year olds and their parents/carers, have been running in many libraries, attracting thousands of children participants every year. Now, with Central, Piershill, Newington, Stockbridge and Ratho libraries coming on board, the fun has spread to each and every library across the city.
City libraries leader, Cllr Deidre Brock, said: “Our staff have been trained and mentored by some of the country’s leading music educationalists to aide them in providing the highest quality Bookstart Rhymetime sessions to families in Edinburgh. We hope that the sessions will bring music into the everyday routines of parents and carers by equipping them with the confidence and tools to sing with their children.” Added: 8 Apr
Shetland’s Bards in the Bog project kicked off this week, as the first poems were framed for display on public toilet doors around Shetland. Entries were received from poets all over the world, keen to participate in the quirky initiative, and six of the best were selected by Shetland’s Poet Partner, Jen Hadfield.
Jen said: “Settling on six poems out of the 130 or so sent in was very, very difficult. The folder included poems that were hilarious, weighty, experimental, formal, satiric, playful. I set myself to choose great poems that also demonstrated the stylistic variety of the submissions. There should be something for everyone. ”
Karen Fraser from Shetland Library said: “We’re delighted with the quality of entries submitted, and for all the publicity this Poet Partner project attracted. For very little cost we’ve been able to promote poetry, publicize the Library, brighten up the local toilet environment and offer poets a unique publishing opportunity”.
The poems have been published on Shetland Library’s website as well as on the toilet doors in selected public buildings. The project runs for the rest of the year, and there will be two more chances to submit poems, in Jun and Sep. The Poet Partner Project is supported by Shetland Library, Shetland Arts, the Scottish Poetry Library and Paul Hamlyn Trust.
Added: 1 AprInformation Scotland is the journal of CILIPS, which is published six times a year. The online version is usually made available around three weeks after the printed publication.
Feb edition now online.
Read the main features from the last edition of Information Scotland:
Coming soon: April 2009 edition
Information Scotland is published bi-monthly and distributed to over 2300 CILIPS members as well as an international subscription base. Download a copy of our media pack to find out more about advertising opportunities.
West Dunbartonshire Libraries are running their highly successful Booked! Festival of Words from 12-29 May. Speakers include Iain M Banks, Louise Welsh, Alan Taylor, Denise Mina and Professor Tom Devine. The programme features events for children, a number of exhibitions and ScotlandsPeople genealogy workshops. Full details are available on the library website.Added: 27 Apr
Orkney Library and Archive has joined the Six Book Challenge, a national reading scheme that aims to encourage more adults to use their local library. The initiative was launched at Kirkwall and Stromness libraries on Mon 27 Apr. Participants will receive incentives for each book read, including cinema tickets, pens and free coffee through a sponsorship deal with a local bistro. Added: 27 Apr
The Scottish Information Literacy Project has been awarded funding by Learning and Teaching Scotland (LTS) to assist in the development of an early years information literacy (IL) project. The initiative aims to create a CPD Information Literacy resource pack containing IL background information, learning and teaching approaches and supporting resources. Added: 22 Apr
LocScot is pleased to announce events and happenings all over Scotland, as part of the Scottish local history week, beginning on Sat 25 April, for full information view the PDF document.Added: 14 Apr
The CILIPS Annual Conference will this year feature two new themed strands, one focusing on school libraries and the other on the wider issue of career development. These new sections will take place on Tues 2 Jun and delegates will be able to mix and max across all strands taking place that day. A full programme, including running times, will be available soon. For more information, or to book a place, see Slainte Events. Added: 8 Apr
Learning and Teaching Scotland (LTS) has published guidance on A Curriculum for Excellence, covering how and what children and young people learn from the early years to the end of S3. The guidance takes the form of experiences and outcomes, which are available on the LTS website. Added: 8 Apr
Edinburgh City Libraries were the driving force in getting Gavin Hastings, Edinburgh Rugby chairman and former Scotland international, behind bars at Saughton Prison in an initiative to inspire reading and healthy lifestyles. The sporting question and answer session attracted around 30 inmates and was aimed at increasing the prisoners' interest in sport and reading, as the most popular books at the prison library have a sport theme. Other sports personalities included Ryan McGowan, captain of the Hearts reserve team, and rugby internationalist Jim Hamilton. The event was organised by Edinburgh City Libraries and the Scottish Prison Service, in conjunction with Edinburgh Rugby Club and Hearts Football Club. Full story in the Scotsman. Added: 1 Apr
Scotland's Information
Research Collections Online
Scottish Library and Information Resources
Scottish Distributed Digital Library
Scottish Collections Network
Co-operative Information Retrieval Network for Scotland
© Send comments, suggestions and queries about SLAINTE to Gillian Hanlon. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 2.5 UK: Scotland License 11-May-2011
