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Government awards library funding

Friday 7th November 2008

Ten projects aimed at improving the quality and diversity of Scotland’s public library services have been awarded £450,000 from the Scottish Government.

The funding, from the Public Library Quality Improvement Fund (PLQIF), will support selected libraries in introducing new hi-tech services such as laptop loans, wireless internet access and self-issue machines for public use.

Other successful bids target meeting the needs of specific user groups such as those with disabilities or long term medical conditions and young people.

In East Dunbartonshire, funding will even lead to the creation of a mobile classroom which will be used to combat digital exclusion among cared for people and their carers.

The PLQIF is administered by the Scottish Library and Information Council (SLIC), the advisory body to Scottish Ministers on library and information matters, and is in its third round.

SLIC Director, Elaine Fulton, said: “We are delighted that the Scottish Government is continuing to support public libraries through this successful programme. Many of the projects build on work SLIC has been doing with local authorities to evaluate and improve their services.

These initiatives not only show the breadth of work undertaken within modern library services in Scotland, but also demonstrate the significant contribution libraries can make in terms of meeting local and national objectives."

The Scottish Government has provided £1.35M through the PLQIF to date, funding projects in 27 local authorities as well as two national initiatives. This Fund will be continued for the next 3 years.

The successful awards totalling £450,000 include:

East Dunbartonshire: Awarded £24,340

This project will offer library support to lessen digital exclusion among carers and the cared for through the provision of a mobile classroom and access to specially designed courses. A small research project into the impact of this initiative has also been funded.

East Lothian: Awarded £45,865

The project will establish self-issue machines in libraries and free up staff time for reader development and support for development of online services.

Edinburgh Awarded: £51,900

Building on last year’s Libraries4YOU, Tales of the City will promote positive engagement with 10-19 year olds, using different forms of art to help them to tell their story.

Highland: Awarded £24,166

Bringing together two previous funded projects to develop community information and community engagement (award subject to clarification of terms).

Perth and Kinross: Awarded £38,000

This project will provide improved health information services to public and mobile libraries.

Scottish Borders: Awarded £17,000

This project will provide improved health information services to those suffering from long term medical conditions. The project will also provide additional resources for children and young people.

Shetland: Awarded £17,200

Building on the 2007 project for groups at risk from exclusion, this project improves physical and technical access to electronic resources for people with disabilities.

South Lanarkshire: Awarded £33,000

To improve access by introducing wireless internet connectivity and widen opportunities to participate in learning.

Stirling: Awarded £66,750

Building on previous projects, this initiative seeks to enhance accessibility and improve the infrastructure in Stirling which supports learning. This project will draw on learning taster sessions developed by Fife Council in a previous project. A small research project into the impact of this initiative has also been funded.

West Dunbartonshire: Awarded £45,665

This project aims to tackles digital inclusion by installing wireless Internet connections in 40% of community libraries and provide a laptop for loan scheme.

National shared project: Awarded £76,114

A national project exploring a national approach to virtual reference services for Scotland.

In addition, £10,000 will be used for research into the impact on the public of earlier projects funded in the 2006/7 and 2007/8.

Contact: Elaine Fulton, Director t: 01698 458888 e: e.fulton@slainte.org.uk

Notes

Public Library Quality Improvement Fund (PLQIF)

The PLQIF was launched by the Scottish Executive in 2006/07 to support the Public Library Quality Improvement Matrix (PLQIM), a quality assurance and performance monitoring framework for public libraries.  PLQIM was developed by SLIC in collaboration with the Scottish Executive.  PLQIF financial support is awarded by SLIC on an annual basis to assist public library services in the implementation of PLQIM.

All library services within Scotland’s 32 local authorities are eligible to apply to SLIC for funding. Applications for funding are made by individual local authorities based on needs and priorities at a local level. 

About SLIC

The Scottish Library and Information Council (SLIC) is the independent advisory body to the Scottish Government on library and information matters.  SLIC was established in 1991 and is funded by organisational membership subscriptions. The Scottish Government partially funds the Council in its work and the National Library of Scotland also contributes financial assistance.  SLIC members include all local authority, higher education and further education institutions, NHS Trust library services and other specialist library and information organisations.