Midlothian Libraries and North Ayrshire Libraries have both been recognised for their outstanding contributions to their local communities at the 2023 SLIC Awards. The two library services picked up the top awards at the SLIC Showcase and AGM on Friday 3rd November at the University Strathclyde Technology and Innovation Centre.
Midlothian Libraries won the SLIC Library Service Excellence Award for their activities which put communities at the heart of their service. North Ayrshire Libraries won the SLIC Project Excellence Award for their brave, empathetic, and visionary work in supporting those recovering from problematic alcohol and drug use.
The Awards recognise the commitment, creativity and value libraries across Scotland offer the people and communities they serve, acknowledging exceptional innovation and service design between the period from June 2022 to June 2023.
Midlothian Libraries' entry described how they have risen to the challenges of a rapidly changing local community, creating a series of events and services that respond to the needs of this community, particularly in response to the Cost-of-Living crisis. The judges commended Midlothian for these activities and the joined-up thinking they represent. They also saw a great range of cultural events, rewarded by significant increases in visits to the library and book issues.
Inverclyde Libraries was Highly Commended in the Library Service Excellence Award category for their efforts in the area Health and Wellbeing. A strong consultation and engagement process led to a highly impressive and comprehensive set of partnerships and libraries services, ones that deliver across six key strategic aims. Inverclyde delivered an aspirational and ambitious programme for the whole of the Inverclyde community.
North Ayrshire Libraries won the 2023 Project Excellence Award with a bold project, co-designed with addiction specialists, to repurpose library spaces, upskill and train library staff, and promote library services to new customers. The judges were particularly impressed by the care and attention provided to both library staff and clients in creating this project which has encouraged those taking part, and their families, to engage with the wider library services. A very commendable, challenging, and pioneering project.
East Lothian Council Library Services was Highly Commended in the same category for their focus on libraries as health and well-being hubs. The judges were highly impressed with the range and depth of the activity achieved by East Lothian, ranging from a strategic restructuring of support provided to staff to specialist book collections for carers. A major project, led by a dedicated Health and Wellbeing Development Officer, that has led to very remarkable set of health and well-being activities for the people of East Lothian.
The 2023 Awards were open to all SLIC members, with the winners receiving a trophy and cash prizes for their success. The Judging panel included SLIC Chair Ian Ruthven, Marion Sinclair, CEO of Publishing Scotland and Marc Lambert Chief Executive of the Scottish Book Trust.
The Awards attracted interest from across SLIC’s membership base from public libraries, Higher and Further Education Libraries, libraries in the health sector and special interest libraries. This year's entries showcased a range of outstanding initiatives and ongoing commitment from library staff in all sectors.
Marking the outstanding contribution Scottish library services make to support their members.
