National Library of Scotland shortlisted for national award

The National Library of Scotland has been shortlisted for the Scottish Library and Information Council's Project Excellence Award for its Fitba Research Club: Andrew Watson's Legacies' project.

Article Source: Scottish Library and Information Council (SLIC)
Last Updated: 6 October 2024 10:13

Honouring excellence in library services across the country, with a particular focus on those who have demonstrated a wider positive impact on the communities they serve, the National Library of Scotland is one of just four library services in the running for the award.

This will be whittled down to one winner and one highly commended in the Project Excellence category next month at the annual SLIC AGM and Showcase where services will be recognised for their outstanding commitment to creating value for their community, and a strategic approach to ensuring library services continue to meet users’ ever-evolving needs.

SLIC chair, Alan Clarke, who is leading the judging panel, alongside Scottish author Theresa Breslin OBE and journalist Garrett Stell, said: “The SLIC Awards are about more than recognising first-class library services and innovative projects – they’re about shining a spotlight on the passionate people behind them who are channelling a great deal of care and creativity into every inspiring initiative they drive forward.

“From tackling cost-of-living challenges and embracing the circular economy, to creating community cohesion, this year’s submissions have shown that Scotland’s library services don’t shy away from taking on the big issues, and that the possibilities are boundless.

“Congratulations to the eight services shortlisted for the 2024 SLIC Awards. We look forward to inviting the nominees to celebrate their achievements with us when we announce the award winners at our Showcase and AGM next month.”

SLIC Project Excellence Award 2024 shortlist:

South Lanarkshire Leisure and Culture
South Lanarkshire Libraries was shortlisted for its ‘Lending Voices Portable Podcast’ project. By offering portable podcasting equipment and support to the local network of 23 public libraries, it provided a platform to share stories, ideas and knowledge, enriching local culture and creating a sense of community. Pop-up podcasting sessions, including talks and workshops, opened up an exciting range of partnership opportunities with people and organisations not previously engaged.

West Dunbartonshire Libraries
West Dunbartonshire Libraries has been shortlisted for its ‘Activism Through Art: Reimagining Scotland for Young Women and Girls’ project. In collaboration with the Young Women’s Movement (YWM), a group of fourteen young women were onboarded to represent diverse life experiences. The group workshopped with socially engaged artist and photographer, Nicola Stead, to explore how arts can be used to engage with social justice movements. The young women involved said they felt empowered by the project to express and share their voice in ways that hadn’t seemed possible before.

Culture Perth and Kinross
Culture Perth and Kinross has been shortlisted for its innovative ‘I Read For…’ project which combined reader development, digital creative skills and the exploration of racism as a contemporary issue. Partnering with a local school, pupils analysed set texts to identify themes of racism and scripted, filmed and edited a video that was subsequently presented to the school body. Outcomes included new skills and improved confidence, emotional intelligence and understanding of a complex issue.

National Library of Scotland
National Library of Scotland was shortlisted for its ‘Fitba Research Club: Andrew Watson’s Legacies’ project. The project brought together a team of 13 community curators aged 18-25 from under-represented and minoritised communities across Glasgow to celebrate the rich history of sporting achievement by Black people and people of colour in Scotland. It proved an effective way of encouraging young people from minority communities, with no previous library experience, to explore their cultural institutions and resources.

SLIC Library Service Excellence Award 2024 shortlist:

Aberdeen City Library and Information Services
Aberdeen City Library and Information Services has been shortlisted for its approach to developing library services for, and with, young people. The team worked directly with young people to gather ideas and develop taster sessions to bring them to life embodying the principles of UNCRC. This included working with local schools to introduce opportunities for young people to take part in and drive forward initiatives, like Aberdeen Reads Challenge (ARC), where the more than 20 children volunteered to train as ARC Ambassadors to promote the reading challenge.

Shetland Library
Shetland Library has been shortlisted for its activities aimed at engaging library users of all ages and stages. The past year has seen significant expansion of the popular Bookbug programme, with attendance rising 51%, in large part due to the striking enthusiasm of the Shetland Library staff. Similarly, their digital support offering was called upon when Transport Scotland moved ferry discount vouchers for island concession card holders online. This was a major change for a large elderly population, and staff received overwhelmingly positive feedback about their reassurance and support.

Midlothian Libraries
Midlothian Libraries has been shortlisted for its proactive response to cost-of-living challenges. As part of Challenge Poverty Week last October, the service relaunched four Warm and Well Hubs in partnership with other social services, providing advice on benefits, employability support and household budgeting. The service has also expanded its Lend and Mend offering into three branches, complemented by sewing and repair clubs to help people learn new skills.

Stirling Council Libraries
Stirling Council Libraries has been shortlisted for its focus on ‘bringing community back to libraries’. Post-COVID and amidst unprecedented budget pressures, the service has worked closely with communities across the Stirling Council area to ensure they are providing a service which is relevant and required. This is exemplified by Dunblane Library which has supported Ukrainian communities staying at Dunblane Hydro to use its services, introducing a collection of Ukrainian adult and children’s books. The services have seen a significant rise in footfall over the last year.

The SLIC Awards are open to all SLIC member libraries, with winners receiving a trophy and cash prize for demonstrating exceptional innovation and service design for activity between June 2023 and June 2024. The winners will be announced at the SLIC Showcase and AGM on 8 November 2024.

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