Culture Secretary Angus Robertson was invited to Denny Library in Falkirk today to reflect on the critical role that libraries play in tackling poverty and inequality in Scottish communities during Challenge Poverty Week 2024.
Nearly two thirds of Falkirk Council Libraries users fall into the most deprived fifth of Scotland’s population. Helping to bridge the digital divide and improve attainment, last year, the service received a Scottish Government-backed funding injection of over £10,000 through the Public Library Improvement Fund (PLIF) for its ‘Return Journeys’ project.
The PLIF grant, administered by the Scottish Library and Information Council, has helped Falkirk Council Libraries engage hard-to-reach groups, including asylum seekers, care-experienced young adults and those in the travelling community, and forge strategic partnerships with the local organisations representing these groups to understand and address both real and perceived barriers to access.
Almost a year on, SLIC and Falkirk Council Libraries had the opportunity to present the positive impact of their forward-thinking, inclusive community wellbeing initiative to Mr Robertson, highlighting how sustained funding is allowing them to combat cost-of-living challenges and improve social cohesion.
Cabinet Secretary for the Constitution, External Affairs and Culture Angus Robertson said: “Libraries are at the heart of Scotland’s communities and they are valuable spaces where people can access the resources they need. It is so important to shine the spotlight on the outstanding work being carried out by Denny Library and the wider Falkirk Council Libraries.
“The ‘Return Journeys’ initiative is a perfect example of how libraries can achieve impactful work in the communities they serve. By supporting projects like these, we are addressing the challenge of poverty and putting down solid foundations for people’s long-term wellbeing across Scotland.”
Falkirk Council Libraries was one of 13 innovative public library projects supported by a share of the 2023/24 PLIF. This followed the service’s COSLA award win last year for its Covid Relief Fund project ‘Words for Wellbeing’. This initiative was launched to tackle social isolation, promote mental health and make these concerns a shared responsibility among all library staff.
Falkirk Council Libraries were also awarded a grant from the European Cultural Foundation Library Challenge programme for their project ‘Libraries Growing for Recovery’ – a collaboration between Falkirk Council Libraries and Falkirk’s Mental Health Association to transform a disused plot of land into a vibrant learning garden promoting community wellbeing and belonging.
Denny Library was chosen to host the Culture Secretary’s visit due to Falkirk’s particularly strategic approach to tackling poverty, representative of the great work going on throughout libraries across the country, and reflective of the nationwide vision for libraries set out in Forward: Scotland’s Public Library Strategy 2021-2025, underpinned by three pillars – people, place and partnerships.
Alison Nolan, Chief Executive of SLIC, said: “The community-first approach of Falkirk Council Libraries perfectly demonstrates the positive potential of libraries to affect outcomes, and as places for learning and connection. It’s well-documented how social isolation and poor attainment are exacerbated by poverty, so it’s more important now than ever that everyone – particularly under-reached groups – are aware of the services and support that is available at their local library.
“Initiatives like those in Falkirk adopt a longer-term view to fostering resilient, cohesive communities, although such forward-thinking can be difficult where future funding isn’t guaranteed. We are grateful for Mr Robertson’s time today to witness firsthand the impacts of Scottish Government funding on the library service.”
Challenge Poverty Week was first launched by the Poverty Alliance in 2013, and this year takes place from 7 – 13 October. It exists to raise awareness of and support solutions to poverty and shift the conversations around poverty by removing stigma.
Find out more about funding available to Scottish public library services.
