£230,000 Public Library Investment

13 public library services across Scotland are set to deliver innovative projects tackling some of the country’s biggest social challenges, supported by a share of a £230,000 investment through the Public Library Improvement Fund.

Administered by the Scottish Library & Information Council on behalf of the Scottish Government, the funding will support projects that demonstrate the diverse ways libraries are responding to the needs of their communities – from boosting reading for pleasure and tackling digital exclusion to supporting New Scots, combating misinformation and encouraging more sustainable living.

Projects range from new book festivals to inclusive creative spaces and community outreach. In South Ayrshire, funding will support the first South Ayrshire Book Festival, bringing the library experience to life across two flagship venues in Ayr and encouraging under-represented groups to become active library users. In Aberdeen, young people will help co-create a city-wide children’s book festival, with reading for pleasure at its core, while Reading Beyond Words in Perth and Kinross will use creative storytelling and sensory experiences to engage children, young people and families, including those with Additional Support Needs.

The 2026/27 fund supports delivery of the sustainable vision set out in Fast Forward: Scotland’s Public Library Strategy Refresh 2026, as well as the development of the Public Library Data Framework and national programmes including ECALM. It aligns national ambition with local action, ensuring libraries can continue to respond to the changing needs of the communities they serve.

This year’s fund prioritises reader development and reading for pleasure, diversification of collections, reducing inequalities, sustainable living, and support for refugees and people seeking asylum, in line with the Scottish Government’s new Scots Refugee Integration Strategy and national community cohesion goals.

In East Dunbartonshire, funding will transform an underused space within William Patrick Library into a permanent Makerspace and Creative Learning Hub, bringing New Scots and established residents together to share skills, build confidence and develop social connections.

Meanwhile, A Warm Glasgow Welcome will pilot a new model across selected Glasgow libraries to help refugees, people seeking asylum and other New Scots access library services, with targeted welcome visits, ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages) pathways, family provision, translated resources and digital support.

As libraries increasingly play a role in helping communities navigate an increasingly digital world, projects in Aberdeenshire and Angus will develop community understanding of AI, misinformation, scams and AI-generated content, with trusted information taken directly into communities and new resources developed for library staff and the public.

Other projects will also help libraries reach people beyond their traditional spaces. In Orkney, portable library kits containing specially curated collections will be taken to where people gather, while Dundee will create a Community Audio Heritage Hub enabling communities to access oral history collections and record their own stories.

Alison Nolan, chief executive of SLIC, said: “Libraries are trusted, inclusive spaces where people can learn, connect, share skills and build stronger communities, and they are continually evolving to meet the changing needs of the people they serve. These 14 projects are a fantastic example of that innovation in action, bringing the ambitions of Fast Forward to life in communities across Scotland.

“From inspiring children and families to discover the joy of reading, to helping people navigate AI and misinformation, welcoming New Scots and making library resources more accessible, the projects showcase the breadth of what libraries can achieve when they work creatively with their communities and partners. We’re looking forward to seeing the positive impact they make locally.”

The Public Library Improvement Fund is part of an annual programme administered by SLIC on behalf of the Scottish Government, supporting creative, sustainable and innovative public library projects throughout Scotland.

The investment comes as Scotland prepares for Wee Read, a national reading moment on Wednesday 7 October as part of the National Year of Reading 2026. Led by SLIC, the campaign is encouraging people of all ages to make time to read something they enjoy, with libraries playing a key role in helping communities discover new books, stories and reading materials.