Scotland’s libraries are at the heart of the communities they operate in, benefitting mental health, promoting social inclusion, opening up new worlds of literature and reducing the poverty-related attainment gap to advance literacy levels in all ages.
SLIC has helped steer these services for over three decades, continually supporting innovation and pushing limits to allow the sector to develop towards the collective desire for a vibrant and sustainable future.
And that’s never been more true than in the last 12 months.
In 2021/22, we continued to respond to the global COVID-19 pandemic which only further reinforced the important role which SLIC plays on behalf of its members and the library sector in Scotland.
SLIC’s business plan was amended accordingly to achieve objectives in the fast-changing landscape as the pandemic rolled on. Objectives were delivered through initiatives to promote libraries, in partnership with members and other strategic organisations, which included the development of online network meetings and programmes.
SLIC participated in international discussion with NAPLES, Libraries Connected, Welsh Libraries, Libraries NI and Libraries Ireland (LGMA) to ensure experience was shared and learnings from the pandemic used to take service delivery forward. Many of the activities in 2021/22 formed part of the support for the response to the pandemic for libraries.
Pivoting its services and curating staff development programmes to ensure the workforce was well placed to enable library users to make the most of the information explosion, SLIC strengthened its online offering and paved the way for technology to be embedded in library services - now, and forever more.
This development not only saw the management of information transform, but the access to library services expand beyond all recognition - driving a cultural recovery for our communities.
We have been able to see the return of in-person library services where SLIC continued to push boundaries. I must commend the team for tackling these changes with such vitality during a difficult period.
This resilience saw our library services navigate through the pandemic, to see the light at the other side where SLIC continues to provide leadership, focus and support to its membership which includes public library services, libraries in schools, colleges, universities and a broad range of specialist information services.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank the SLIC team for their enthusiastic input and unwavering support to maintain the high standard of work which has been delivered. I would also like to thank the SLIC Board for their insight and guidance throughout the year.
Thank you,
Ian Ruthven, Chair, SLIC Board of Trustees
Below is a summary of some of the core achievements throughout 2021/22, the year in which SLIC celebrated 30 years as an organisation.
- SLIC published Forward: Scotland's Public Library Strategy 2021-2025 which focuses on People, Place and Partnership. The Strategy, the result of a comprehensive research and consultation process, builds on the collective desire for a vibrant, sustainable future for Scotland’s public library network
- SLIC administered the Public Library Covid Relief Fund, distributing £1.25 million to public libraries on behalf of the Scottish Government. The Fund helped to re-connect communities with their libraries and recognise the essential role public libraries play within local communities
- A motion was laid down at the Scottish Parliament during Libraries Week and SLIC’s briefing paper discussed at First Minister’s Questions with the First Minister stating that libraries have been and will continue to be, an important part of the fabric of Scotland
- Ms Jenny Gilruth, Minister for Economy, Fair Work and Culture, visited a mobile library in Deanston, Stirlingshire for National Mobile Libraries Day in November
- In the Year Glasgow hosted the 26th UN Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP26), SLIC collaborated on climate-based projects including Climate Beacons with Creative Carbon Scotland, #Cop26Conversations Fund with Museums Galleries Scotland and Climate Tales with BBC Scotland
- SLIC carried out its annual membership survey which received positive feedback from membership on the support, information, accessibility, and representation provided by SLIC
The pandemic highlighted data poverty issues within Scotland and, as part of the public health response, lack of access to public library venues exacerbated this. SLIC continued to present its offering online, before using shared experience and learnings from its national and international network to navigate out of the pandemic.
SLIC provided the Scottish Government with advice throughout the pandemic to inform First Minister’s Questions – with public libraries featured on a regular basis; and developed the Public Health Scotland approved Guidance for Public Libraries; which influenced the Scottish Government Guidance for Schools with standards also reflected in Higher and Further Education sectors. SLIC worked closely with COSLA to ensure elected members in local government were kept informed of developments in relation to public libraries.
SLIC also played a crucial part in informing members of developments in this fast-changing context and promoting initiatives which took place in Scottish libraries.
Supporting digital inclusion, SLIC was able to drive innovation within the sector during this period, while ensuring consistent health and safety regulations were developed to enable public library services to resume - albeit in a staged manner.
More than £1.25 million of funding was allocated to the recovery of the library sector – the highest ever public library investment grant. The Public Library COVID Relief Fund saw 23 innovative projects around the country thrive, from providing home library services to reopening libraries that closed during the pandemic and setting up wellbeing cafes. The Fund allowed libraries to reconnect with the communities around them, with priority given to those in the most deprived areas.
SLIC Awards
The inaugural SLIC Awards were introduced as part of the 30th anniversary celebrations. The Award was won by East Lothian Council Library Service for its sustained, imaginative and ambitious response to the challenges posed by the COVID pandemic. Inverclyde Library Service was named the runner-up and highly commended for its focus on digital support.
National Strategies
Forward: Scotland's Public Library Strategy was published in August 2021 and clearly marks the direction of travel for Scotland’s public libraries. It is informed and shaped by key national policies and priorities, placing libraries at the heart of society’s post-Covid-19 recovery.
During 2021/22SLIC supported the implementation of Vibrant Libraries, Thriving Schools: a National Strategy for School Libraries in Scotland 2018-2023 in the remote environment in which everyone was operating during the pandemic.
SLIC also commissioned a short film on the refreshed Collective Force for Health and Wellbeing with Digital Health Scotland, NHS and THE ALLIANCE, attracting funding to support the Near Me in Libraries pilot.
Ministerial Engagement
SLIC presented at the Scottish Government’s National Partnership for Culture and COSLA Culture Convenors Working Group, supported by both the Minister for Economy, Fair Work and Culture and the Minister for Education.
A motion was laid down at the Scottish Parliament during Libraries Week and SLIC’s briefing paper discussed at First Minister’s Questions.
Conferences & Events
Member events, including the annual Publishing and Libraries Day and SLIC Annual Showcase, were hosted virtually, offering members from all sectors the chance to come together.
The third National Mobile Libraries Day took place as part of Book Week Scotland, inviting library services from across Scotland and beyond to get creative with a “throwback” social media campaign while mobile libraries were unable to travel. Ms Jenny Gilruth, Minister for Economy, Fair Work and Culture, visited a mobile library in Deanston, Stirlingshire as part of the celebrations.
On World Book Day, SLIC announced a National Reading Moment - Keep the Heid and Read! – shining a light on the benefits of reading during Mental Health Awareness Week, and the annual Summer Reading Challenge encouraged children to read throughout the summer to prevent a reading gap.
Evaluation of the 2020/21 Public Library Improvement Fund projects demonstrated small sums of project funding is extremely impactful to the sector. Climate and sustainability projects such as tool libraries, sustainability workshops and digital developments all demonstrated the innovation and creativity which is thriving in Scotland’s public libraries to support local communities.
SLIC also commissioned an evaluation of the 2020/21 School Library Improvement Fund projects. This highlighted their overall impact which enhanced confidence, improved mental health & wellbeing, and enhanced reading & writing skills. Staff praised the ease of the application process.
As part of SLIC's internal standards, the organisation retained both Cyber Essentials and Living Wage Employer accreditation. This helps to ensure SLIC maintains best practices across its operations.
The Digital Training Platform for Public Library Staff was piloted with over 800 ‘Digital Champions’ from all 32 local authorities ahead of the platform launch in Summer 2022. Work is underway on the Information Literacy Toolkit which is expected to be available later in 2022.
SLIC is also working to streamline the data gathered by public libraries to ensure it is meaningful to use with the new Community Planning Dataset, while the Open Data Community Planning platform will allow public libraries to obtain demographic information about the communities in which they are based to inform plans.
A bespoke Social Enterprise Academy leadership course is also being developed for emerging library leaders. The course will commence 2022/23.
The NOMAD Person Centred Design toolkit is now being implemented across Scotland with 120 staff from all 32 local authorities undertaking training to create a more welcoming and flexible environment for the public.
SLIC worked in partnership with agencies in the culture sector in Scotland and further afield to support overall COVID-19 recovery. This included collaborating with Creative Carbon Scotland and other national cultural agencies to support the implementation of a Climate Beacon Network in the run up to COP26.
SLIC commissioned, in partnership with other national cultural agencies, a short film called ‘Climate Action Needs Culture' focusing on the importance of culture in tackling sustainability and the ongoing climate crisis.
The organisation worked with Museums Galleries Scotland to ensure libraries could apply for grants of up to £1000 from the #COP26Conversations Fund to host community-focused events and activities before and during November’s COP26 summit in Glasgow.
BBC Scotland also featured SLIC and the role of libraries as part of various initiatives, including ‘Climate Tales’ and the ‘Big Scottish Book Club’.
SLIC hosted a webinar focussing on Film Education with partners from the film community supporting the event, and worked with Fun Palaces and its ambassador to curate workshops which allowed participants to act out their thoughts and aspirations. SLIC also worked with its public library members to support those seeking employment through an Economic Recovery Group.
The Digichamps Network went from strength to strength, increasing the diet of meetings and working with a range of partners to raise digital engagement in the sector, with key learnings shared with the Welsh Government.
SLIC worked with Audit Scotland to map public library opening hours both before and after the COVID-19 pandemic. The Local Government in Scotland overview was published in May 2022.
In 2021/22 the organisation partnered with the University of Strathclyde to support the 'Downloading a New Normal' AHRC research.
SLIC also carried out its annual membership survey and partnered with CILIP and other information membership organisations on the ongoing Workforce Mapping Survey.
The funding e-newsletter continued to be updated and circulated to members every two months.
SLIC managed funds were distributed as follows:
Public Library Covid Relief Fund
Total awarded - £1.25M (through two open funding rounds)
The Scottish Government approved the uplift in recognition of the vital role which libraries play in communities
2021/22 Public Library Improvement Fund (PLIF)
Total awarded - £450,000
£204,707 Awarded to 13 projects across Scotland
This fund also supported the Programme for Government priorities of Every Child a Library Member and One Card
2021/22 School Library Improvement Fund (SLIF)
Total awarded - £200,000
Awarded to 20 projects from over 15 local authorities
Focusing on projects that encouraged racial equality and anti-racism, as well as improved access to mental health and wellbeing resources
Innovation and Development Fund (IDF)
Total awarded - £31,000
5 successful bids
Demonstrating innovation and creativity in the Further Education and Higher Education sectors
Book Week Scotland
Grants awarded - £22,800
30 local authorities
The Children’s Library Services Fund (one-off fund)
10 library services received a grant of £1,000 support Read, Write, Count activities
Bursaries
11 librarians received bursaries to attend the CILIPS Annual Conference in Dundee
Trustees
- Ian Ruthven, Chair
- Alison Stevenson, Vice Chair
- Craig Vickery, Treasurer (appointed 16 February 2022)
- Harry Mulvey, Treasurer (resigned 1 November 2022)
- Gary Cameron
- Fiona Dakers (resigned 5 November 2021)
- Richmond Davies appointed 5 November 2021)
- Hazel Hutchison (resigned 28 April 2021)
- Jill Leishman (appointed 1 July 2021)
- Anna McInnes
- Lindsay McKrell (appointed 16 June 2022)
- Andrew Olney (appointed 16 June 2022)
- Richard Parsons (appointed 8 June 2022)
- Robin Prior
- Peter Reid (resigned 5 November 2021)
- Penny Robertson (resigned 1 July 2021)
- Robert Ruthven (resigned 8 June 2022)
- John Scally (resigned 1 October 2021)
- Amina Shah (appointed 5 November 2021)
- Maisie Smith (appointed 5 November 2021)
- Rachel Stewart (resigned 5 January 2022)
- Robert Sullivan
- Jonathan Tait
