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Facelift for Scottish libraries
02/08/2007
Ten projects aimed at improving the quality and diversity of Scotland's public library services have been awarded £450,000 from the Scottish government.
The funding, from the Public Library Quality Improvement Fund, is administered by the Scottish Library and Information Council (SLIC), the advisory body to Scottish Ministers on library and information matters. This is the second round of funding under the scheme.
Announcing the successful projects, Culture Minister Linda Fabiani said:
"Our public libraries play an important role, not only educationally but culturally and socially, for the communities they serve. I am glad to see projects offering library support to groups such as young people and migrant workers - this is where great results will be achieved.
"This funding will help libraries across Scotland continue to improve the quality and diversity of the services they offer . It will allow more people to access information and learning opportunities - helping to nurture skills and realise ambitions."
Elaine Fulton, Director of the Scottish Library and Information Council said:
"Public Libraries continue to provide a range of services to almost 60 per cent of the population. We are delighted with this continued support for public libraries through this successful programme. This builds on work we have been doing with local authorities to evaluate and improve their services. These projects will demonstrate how libraries can contribute to meeting local and national objectives."
The successful awards totalling £450,000 include:
This project will offer library support for socially vulnerable groups in Dundee including migrant workers and those with substance abuse.
- East Renfrewshire £46,004
The project will establish libraries as a key partner in health information and support services, contributing to health improvement and minimising exclusion.
The project will work with young people and key partners in three community libraries of Kirkliston, Ratho and Moredun to tackle the problems of anti-social behaviour.
This project will provide wireless e-services to widen community access to ICT skills and learning in all 7 current library buildings.
This project will provide children 0-12 years old living anywhere in the Highlands access to a consistent, flexible and progressive planned public library programme which focuses on reading for enjoyment, reading for information and developing use of the public library as a community resource.
This project aims to enable those with additional learning needs to access computers with the support of the local learning partnership through a range of courses of learning activities and support.
This project aimed at older residents in the 50+ age group to increase their use of local libraries and increase their confidence to access the wide variety of learning and leisure opportunities on offer.
To improve the quality of life in Shetland for a number of priority groups, in particular migrant workers and emergent readers, through the provision of more accessible, appropriately resourced library services.
This project will address inclusion and equalities by promoting reading to disadvantaged groups through the provision of enhanced accessibility, improved staff training and awareness of literacy needs and the provision of opportunities to take part in reading groups and online discussions.
- National shared project £17,126
A national project for minority language provision, led by Dundee, supporting migrant workers and their families.
The Scottish Library and Information Council received core funding from the Scottish government - £220,000 in 2007-08 - and is receiving £500,000 per year in 2006-07 and 2007-08 for the Public Library Quality Improvement Matrix and the associated Fund.
In 2006-07, the PLQIM Fund awarded £442,000 to eight local authority projects with the authorities contributing to the balance of the £854,000 total project costs.