Almost 80k for library projects

South Ayrshire library projects have secured over £79,800 as part of national funding for innovative projects in public and school libraries.

Focus was given to projects that tackle climate change, promote sustainable development and champion anti-racism.

Prestwick Academy Library and Ayr Academy Library (in collaboration with nine primary school libraries) have been awarded £44,000 for the‘Read Woke Primaries’aimed at embedding themes of equality, diversity, social justice and human rights throughout curriculums via school libraries.

The funding will significantly widen the range and diversity of books available to students. South Ayrshire Libraries has been awarded £26,610 for‘Climate for Change’, a project which will create climate hubs at all public libraries to highlight and promote better awareness of the impact that human behaviour has on existing natural resources and the planet.

South Ayrshire Libraries have also been awarded £9200 for the‘Jock Tamson’s Bairns’project that will provide a carefully curated selection of books, ebooks/eaudio, audiobooks, and online and physical resources to educate and empower readers to engage with social justice issues and their human rights. Funding was given through The Public Library Improvement Fund (PLIF) and the School Library Improvement Fund (SLIF), annual awards set up by the Scottish Government and administered by the Scottish Library and Information Council.