Start a new chapter and connect with your rebel spirit in book week

Libraries are a lifeline and key to helping set people free, writes Sean Mcnamara

As Book Week Scotland, that wonderful celebration of all things books and reading begins, libraries all across Scotland are ready to play their part and deliver a range of events. Ever since Book Week Scotland began, libraries have worked closely with Scottish Book Trust to deliver author talks and much more and this year is no different. With the likes of Denise Mina, Graeme Macrae Burnet, Lin Anderson and Chris Brookmyre, alongside activities such as Bookbug, film screenings and social events up and down the country, this really is an exciting year.

The theme this year is Rebel and this couldn’t be a better fit for us. Libraries truly have a rebellious spirit at their core: helping their users to break new ground and by standing for a core value of equality, a value too often not found in today’s society. With inequality growing in the UK faster than many other countries, libraries rebel against that trend, providing a space where all are welcome, no matter their background or means.

Libraries provide a gateway for adults to learn about the things they might not have discovered in school. They provide an opportunity to access fiction in a safe, nonjudgemental environment and to access genres they didn’t know existed. They change lives in incredible ways, too: Glasgow Libraries have taken a ground-breaking approach to homelessness in the Mitchell Library, defying the way that others often treat the problem, and they won a prestigious award for their work.

Authors with a rebellious streak have long found solace and inspiration in public

Advocate: Sean Mcnamara

libraries. As part of our recent campaign, Irvine Welsh said: “I grew up in a scheme where every house and street pretty much looked the same. As a kid it was essential to have your imagination fuelled by a psychic portal into different worlds. That was my library in Muirhouse. That was why I became a writer and why camera crews from all over the world and Hollywood film stars and executives descended on my home town for the premiere of the film of my book.”

Other authors such as Caitlin Moran praise the huge impact they had on their education. Education led by an individual’s own imagination is a truly rebellious act.

Libraries have been doing this for decades. Jimmy Reid, the famous Clyde trade union leader, once pointed to Govan Library as the university he attended, providing the educational background that inspired a rebellion that changed workers’ rights in the shipyards. There no doubt will have been many others who have influenced the world in a range of ways, inspired by local libraries.

School libraries also provide a supportive and safe space where pupils discover reading for pleasure, supported by skilled school librarians. In a world where the internet is seen by many as a source of true information, libraries cut through this, providing information and digital support to filter out misinformation, propaganda and fake news.

In recent times, public and school libraries have suffered austerity worse than many public services. This has inspired many library campaigners to rise up and fight for the value of libraries through organised campaigns. In Scotland, library usage is on the up and the Scottish Government recently introduced a national strategy for school libraries, the first of its kind in the UK: a vital document that began with the voices of rebellious library campaigners across the country.

Modern libraries encourage people to go against the grain digitally. Funded by the Scottish Government through the Scottish Library and Information Council (SLIC) we have seen the introduction of Makerspaces in libraries, allowing people to create in a truly innovative way. Meanwhile, libraries also provide spaces for groups to exchange ideas and learn new skills.

Libraries are evolving constantly, and Scotland’s library network is home to innovation, allowing individuals of all backgrounds to learn, read, develop and find his or her own way to be a rebel in these challenging times.

Libraries are an essential resource and we must ensure they are part of society for years to come. This Book Week Scotland, visit your local library and attend one of the many events in the programme, you’re sure to find something both inspiring and rebellious.

All are welcome, no matter their background or means

● Sean Mcnamara is acting director of CILIP Scotland, the Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals in Scotland

● Book Week Scotland runs until 25 November, ww.scottishbooktrust.com/