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The Public Library Improvement Fund plays a key role in helping public library services achieve the sustainable vision set out in Forward: Scotland’s Public Library Strategy 2021-2025.
Previous projects have focused on areas such as service development, research, partnership working and the creation of new resources.
Looking at completed Public Library Improvement Fund projects can help inspire new funding applications.
Fintry Tool Library
A project encouraging community growth from 2021
This pioneering Leisure & Culture Dundee project from 2021 encouraged community growth and wellbeing by establishing a Tool Library within Fintry Public Library. The library provided a range of tools and other resources which members of the public could borrow to use in the local community garden.
This community led experience has now led to partnerships with local primary schools and organisations. The community garden is also used to cultivate a selection of sustainable foods.
The initiative supported six strategic aims from Forward: Scotland’s Public Library Strategy 2021-2025. These were:
- 1.2 Improve wellbeing and support post COVID-19 recovery with programs which target health, economic growth, and strengthen communities.
- 1.3 Encourage active citizenship through access to trusted, accurate information which empowers communities to make informed decisions.
- 1.5 Reflect the rich and diverse communities in both library resources and programming to make them accessible to all.
- 2.2 Design library services which reach the heart of communities and engage with new audiences.
- 3.1 Develop partnerships which support more resilient, fairer, healthier communities.
- 3.3 Collaborate with partners to contribute towards the sustainable development agenda for 2030.
This ties in with the 2021 theme of the fund which was sustainability and climate change. The project focuses on promoting ‘grow your own’ food initiatives – helping people to change the way they view food and grow it.
The local nature of the project has also been a huge part of its success. As Fintry Public Library is central to the town, people do not have to travel far to take part. Borrowing tools for the community garden allows people with no outdoor space to take part. Meanwhile those new to gardening can try it out before investing in lots of equipment.
Jock Tamson’s Bairns
A 2021 project designed to educate and empower
In 2021 South Ayrshire Libraries created the Jock Tamson’s Bairns project to educate and empower local readers. The project looks at themes surrounding equality, diversity, social justice, and human rights. Its aim is to challenge children and young adults up to the age of 25 to look at books outside their social norm.
Jock Tamson’s Bairns relates to four Strategic Aims of Forward: Scotland’s Public Library Strategy 2021-2025. These are:
- 1.1: Embed libraries as lead contributors to reading and literacy by closing the learning gap in communities, through national programmes and local initiatives.
- 1.3: Encourage active citizenship through access to trusted, accurate information which empowers communities to make informed decisions.
- 1.5: Reflect the rich and diverse communities in both library resources and programming to make them accessible to all.
- 2.2: Design library services which reach the heart of communities and engage with new audiences.
The project has allowed South Ayrshire Libraries to widen both the range and diversity of resources available to the public. The Jock Tamson’s Bairns collection includes fiction and non-fiction titles which provide information on disenfranchised groups and challenge behaviours which create inequality.
A series of events with speakers including asylum seekers and care experienced children have also help to promote an understanding of real-world issues and build empathy towards others.
Play Together
A sustainable and inclusive project from 2021
This Inverclyde Libraries project has established a sustainable toy and games library for children and young families in the local area.
Through Play Together children and their families can borrow toys, games and other resources at no cost. Sustainable and inclusive, the project has also contributed to the library service being presented with an Inverclyde Rights of the Child Award from Inverclyde Council.
The project supports five Strategic Aims from Forward: Scotland’s Public Library Strategy 2021-2025. These are:
- 1.1: Embed libraries as lead contributors to reading and literacy by closing the learning gap in communities, through national programmes and local initiatives.
- 1.2: Improve wellbeing and support post COVID-19 recovery with programs which target health, economic growth, and strengthen communities.
- 1.5: Reflect the rich and diverse communities in both library resources and programming to make them accessible to all.
- 2.2: Design library services which reach the heart of communities and engage with new audiences.
- 3.3: Collaborate with partners to contribute towards the sustainable development agenda for 2030.
Play Together has helped the Young People’s Services team increase their knowledge of specialised play resources. This has led to more outdoor play and learning resources being procured, a new Play Book Collection being established and the creation of Storytelling Sacks to promote storytelling at home. The library service has also seen an increase in the number of people taking part in library events.
A proportion of the library service budget has now been allocated to keep the Play Together project going. This will help to ensure more children and families in the local area continue to benefit from this sustainable and educational resource.
Digi Bytes & Takeaways
A 2022 intergenerational project
This Moray Libraries project focuses on delivering lunchtime sessions to eight families with children between 3-7-years old. It aims to help them engage with new and emerging technologies.
The weekly sessions are held in Elgin Library with Learning Centre staff providing families with a takeaway digital resources kit designed to support early years STEM and intergenerational learning at home.
The project supports five Strategic Aims of Forward: Scotland’s Public Library Strategy 2021-2025. These are:
- 1.2: Improve wellbeing and support post COVID-19 recovery with programs which target health, economic growth, and strengthen communities.
- 1.4 Equip library staff with the skills to deliver a progressive library service and nurture leaders at all levels.
- 2.2: Design library services which reach the heart of communities and engage with new audiences.
- 2.3 Ensure the digital and physical space are blended to create a high-quality offer responsive to evolving needs.
- 3.1: Develop partnerships which support more resilient, fairer, healthier communities.
Parents and children have time to try the resources in the library and ask any questions before taking the kit boxes home. The sessions also provide an opportunity for parents to meet other parents and socialise over a free lunch.
The project has enabled Moray Libraries to support families during the current cost-of-living crisis and encourage children and parents to engage with STEM in the early years. There are now plans to expand the project with new families keen to take part being identified.
Off the Page
An interactive project from 2022 focusing on engagement
The ‘Off the Page’ project developed a new creative model of reimagining North Ayrshire Libraries literacy primary class visit programme, through the medium of poetry, art and film to deliver fun, interactive and engaging sessions to primary pupils in targeted schools.
Library staff worked with teachers to create a theme of ‘Myths and Legends’. Two local artists, with experience of working with P5 pupils, helped to deliver creative sessions, starting with an introductory session around World Book Day. As part of the project, Poetry Dens were created and have been well-received by childminders and children for storytelling.
The project supports three Strategic Aims of Forward: Scotland’s Public Library Strategy 2021-2025. There are:
- 1.1 Embed libraries as lead contributors to reading and literacy by closing the learning gap in communities, through national programmes and local initiatives.
- 2.3 Ensure the digital and physical space are blended to create a high-quality offer responsive to evolving needs.
- 3.2 Amplify the voice of public libraries through inclusive communication to ensure key messaging reaches all stakeholders.
So far, eight poetry sessions, twelve arts sessions and four film sessions have been delivered to primary school pupils, with everyone involved thoroughly enjoying the sessions. The project has helped North Ayrshire Libraries re-imagine how library services can engage with primary school-aged children. It demonstrates that libraries are hubs of creativity. It also added to evidence that creative projects help encourage engagement with library services. Key outcomes have also included increases in book issues in participating classes, visitor numbers to participating libraries and targeted literacy-based class visits.
Libraries on the Move
A project focusing on rural inequalities from 2022
Libraries on The Move set out to tackle rural inequalities by extending the mobile library service, which had previously only provided library users enough time for book borrowing.
Library staff worked in partnership with local community groups and leaders to establish a series of regular ‘outreach’ days, as well as new events and prorgrammes for rural communities.
This included Bookbug sessions, reading challenges, author visits, library sign up and ‘how to’ sessions as well as information sessions by public bodies and third sector organisations.
This Project supports six Strategic Aims from Forward: Scotland’s Public Library Strategy 2021-2025. These are:
- 1.1: Embed libraries as lead contributors to reading and literacy by closing the learning gap in communities, through national programmes and local initiatives.
- 1.2: Improve wellbeing and support post COVID-19 recovery with programs which target health, economic growth, and strengthen communities.
- 1.5: Reflect the rich and diverse communities in both library resources and programming to make them accessible to all.
- 2.2: Design library services which reach the heart of communities and engage with new audiences.
- 2.4: Curate a diverse cultural offer which celebrates local and national heritage and encourages community led experiences.
- 3.1: Develop partnerships which support more resilient, fairer, healthier communities.
The project has helped Angus Libraries to expand their mobile library service and connect with rural communities. It demonstrates that the library service is committed to reducing rural inequalities and improving community resilience and cohesion.
Additionally, staff now have experience in partnership working and have learned more about the needs of their communities, supporting the development of future library services.
Overall, the project achieved several invaluable outcomes. This includes reducing the barriers to and increased the opportunities for good quality community engagement. The project has also helped to tackle digital exclusion by providing access and training to online services, with users gaining more confidence and increased skills.
Making Sense of Communities
A sensory based project from 2023
High Life Highland’s sensory project aims to engage with and improve the health and wellbeing of hard-to-reach groups including those with autism, dementia, physical impairment, and those who are socially isolated.
The project used a suite of sensory resources, from a sensory projector and sensory toys to a sensory book collection to deliver services.
Libraries from across the Highland’s helped to coordinate activities, with library staff reaching out to services such as schools, nurseries, care homes and community halls.
The initiative supported four strategic aims from Forward: Scotland’s Public Library Strategy 2021-2025. These were:
- 1.2 Improve wellbeing and support post COVID-19 recovery with programs which target health, economic growth, and strengthen communities.
- 1.5 Reflect the rich and diverse communities in both library resources and programming to make them accessible to all.
- 2.2 Design library services which reach the heart of communities and engage with new audiences.
- 3.1 Develop partnerships which support more resilient, fairer, healthier communities.
Activities included a local care home visit, care home residents visiting the library, school pupils with complex needs given access to the sensory projector and five ‘Mind Hubs’ providing sensory activities.
Additionally, the project has encouraged partnerships with organisations such as Memories Scotland and NHS Highland as well as with Adult Learning colleagues.
Through the project the library service has reached new audiences, including hard to reach groups, and attract other customers and partners back to the service post- COVID. There are now plans to extend the project to areas that didn’t initially benefit and respond to requests from several schools and care homes for a repeat visit. Sensory corners may also be created in library branches where there is local need.
Return Journeys
A 2023 project aimed at reaching identified under-reached groups
Falkirk Libraries aimed to identify barriers and explore how libraries engage with three traditionally underserved communities: the Traveller community, refugees and asylum seekers and care-experienced individuals.
Taking this evidence-led approach was designed to ensure the library service met the needs of each group. Falkirk Libraries developed a relationship with FOSS (Friends of Scottish Settlers) to engage more refugees and asylum seekers. This included library staff learning more about the asylum process and discussing the development of library services.
Library staff also collaborated with Falkirk Council’s community resettlement team, to explore ways of supporting the local Somali community.
The project supports seven Strategic Aims from Forward: Scotland’s Public Library Strategy 2021-2025. These are:
- 1.3: Encourage active citizenship through access to trusted, accurate information which empowers communities to make informed decisions.
- 1.4: Equip library staff with the skills to deliver a progressive library service and nurture leaders at all levels.
- 1.5: Reflect the rich and diverse communities in both library resources and programming to make them accessible to all.
- 2.1: 1 Deploy people-centred design principles and decision making to ensure service development is collaborative.
- 2.2: Design library services which reach the heart of communities and engage with new audiences.
- 3.1: Develop partnerships which support more resilient, fairer, healthier communities.
- 3.2: Amplify the voice of public libraries through inclusive communication to ensure key messaging reaches all stakeholders.
The library team also carried out activities at the Council Traveller site and held regular sessions in a local library. This focused on delivering digital skills and STEM activity workshops to children and young people.
To encourage engagement from people with a care experienced background, the library service partnered with Falkirk Council Leaving Care Service and Friends of Tremanna and Brae – a charity that supports young people who are, or have been, looked after away from home in the residential houses, Tremanna and Braes.
Discussions uncovered that care-experienced young people and new parents lacked confidence to walk into a library and join Bookbug sessions with parents and carers who do not share their background. As such, the library service prepared sessions within the residential unit and is continuing to build this relationship, with mystery shopper exercises planned to identify further barriers for care experienced young adults.
This multi-year project involves building trust and building on several lessons. The next phase of the project will involving embedding learning through staff training as well as library service delivery.
Lending Voices
A project offering portable podcasting in your library from 2023
Lending Voices is a South Lanarkshire Libraries project which provides accessible podcasting services in public libraries.
Library users have the opportunity to learn and create podcasts – supporting the library’s mission to foster learning, share knowledge, and engage with communities through digital literacy and enriched cultural expression.
Library staff collaborated widely across South Lanarkshire to develop wide ranging bespoke activities. This included supporting community advocacy, enhancing education opportunities and improving health and wellbeing.
This Project supports seven Strategic Aims from Forward: Scotland’s Public Library Strategy 2021-2025. These are:
- 1.1: Embed libraries as lead contributors to reading and literacy by closing the learning gap in communities, through national programmes and local initiatives.
- 1.2: Improve wellbeing and support post COVID-19 recovery with programs which target health, economic growth, and strengthen communities.
- 1.3: Equip library staff with the skills to deliver a progressive library service and nurture leaders at all levels.
- 2.2: Design library services which reach the heart of communities and engage with new audiences.
- 2.3: Ensure the digital and physical space are blended to create a high-quality offer responsive to evolving needs.
- 3.1: Develop partnerships which support more resilient, fairer, healthier communities.
- 3.2: Amplify the voice of public libraries through inclusive communication to ensure key messaging reaches all stakeholders.
Internally, the library service has directly benefited from access to podcasting equipment. They now record author visits and library events, ensuring talks, discussions, and other materials are accessible in multiple formats. This increases accessibility and preserves library service content in an innovative way.
This highly innovative project had a momentous impact in South Lanarkshire. It has transformed the library service into a creative hub for storytelling, digital inclusion, and community engagement. Lending Voices provides a platform that supports empowerment, learning, community connection, and ensures that anyone can share their voice, regardless of background or experience.
Previous Award Winners
Public Library Improvement Awards 2024
Evidence-Led Libraries: Inspiring Innovation and Creating Communities
Scottish Library & Information Council
Annual General Meeting 2025
