Libraries book extra funding to help bolster learning and wellbeing

Fife and Perth and Kinross among those sharing windfall

Fife and Perth and Kinross library services have been allocated a large slice of national funding to help modernise their work.

Together the two authorities will receive more than £58,000 from the Public Library Improvement Fund.

ONFife will spend its £32,500 on supporting the library service’s aspiring learners project.

The scheme, run in association with Children’s University Scotland, aims to encourage more people to use libraries for family learning activities.

Another £26,000 will go towards an “innovator in residence” post for Culture Perth and Kinross.

The pair are among 10 public library services that will share a £200,000 windfall.

The fund is administered by the Scottish Library and Information Council (Slic) on behalf of the Scottish Government, and distributes cash every year to support innovation in the public library sector.

The successful projects address a wide range of issues such as literacy, digital training and social isolation.

The winning bids were announced by Culture Secretary Fiona Hyslop at Dunfermline Carnegie Library and Galleries.

She said: “The funding of over £200,000 announced today will help libraries across Scotland build on the excellent service they already provide and become welcoming spaces to reduce social isolation and help people make positive connections.”

She added that it forms part of a total of £450,000 library funding from the Scottish Government.

Fife Cultural Trust’s chief executive Heather Stuart said: “We will be developing the pilot systems that will eventually allow all children throughout the country to access and benefit from Children’s University Scotland’s Aspire programme, which recognises, rewards and motivates young people to take part in out-of-school learning activities and opportunities.”

Pamela Tulloch from Slic said the winning bids reflected the diversity of activities taking place in modern libraries, where projects are helping to improve users’ health and wellbeing and encouraging them to learn new skills.

The funding will help libraries build on the excellent service they already provide and become welcoming spaces to reduce social isolation. FIONA HYSLOP, CULTURE SECRETARY

Picture: Lesley Martin. Culture Secretary Fiona Hyslop, centre, announced the funding during a visit to Dunfermline Carnegie Library and Galleries.