Public Library Improvement Fund Frequently Asked Questions

The Public Library Improvement Fund (PLIF) is a funding stream which supports creative, sustainable and innovative library projects throughout Scotland. It is available to all public library services in Scotland and administered by the Scottish Library and Information Council on behalf of the Scottish Government.

You must be a member of the Scottish Library and Information Council to apply to the fund. Applications must also support the strategic aims of Forward: Scotland’s Public Library Strategy 2021-2025. Every year SLIC and the Scottish Government also identify key priorities for the fund.

The SLIC Funding Sub-Committee approves applications on innovation, achievability, value for money, sustainability, and scalability. The SLIC Funding Sub-Committee also looks at how strongly the application engages with Forward: Scotland’s Public Library Strategy.

The 15 Strategic Aims are set out in Forward: Scotland’s Public Library Strategy 2021-2025. The Aims fall under the overarching themes of People, Place and Partnership.

These outline the key areas of development within Scotland’s public libraries. Applications to the Public Library Improvement Fund need to relate to at least one of the strategic aims of this document.

There is a limit of two applications per eligible library service. This is to give library services the opportunity to prioritise what is important to their service.

The Fair Work Scheme encourages and supports employers to adopt fair work practices within their organisation. This includes paying at least the real Living Wage and providing appropriate channels for effective workers’ voice.

SLIC needs to ensure that all library services and their collaborative partners are fully compliant with the scheme. Details of the scheme are available on the Scottish Government website.