Wikimedian in Residence at National Library of Scotland

The National Library of Scotland (NLS) in collaboration with Wikimedia is seeking to appoint Scotland’s first ever Wikimedian in Residence for a period of four months. 

This is a unique opportunity to help enrich and develop Wikipedia with information about the Library’s collections and knowledge from its staff. 

The Wikimedian in Residence will work with NLS staff, the library community, members of the public and researchers to encourage contributions to the development of Wikipedia articles.

Scottish Government awards Digital Participation funding

The Scottish Government has awarded the Scottish Library and Information Council (SLIC) additional funding to support digital participation initiatives as part of the implementation of the national digital strategy.

SLIC will receive an additional £90,000 in the next two years to support two specific digital participation projects.

The first of these will see the creation of an online resource for directing users towards digital engagement opportunities and online learning sessions, such as the IT classes offered by libraries.

This project will be based on data collected during the highly successful BBC First Click campaign, combined with resources held by SLIC.

As part of the second project, libraries will be more deeply linked to the Scottish Government Digital Participation Action Group (DPAG) through the appointment of a dedicated coordinator, working between SLIC and the Scottish Government.

SLIC Company Secretary and interim CEO, Moira Methven, said: “SLIC is delighted that the integral role of public libraries in supporting the digital participation agenda has been recognised by the Scottish Government.

“Scotland’s public libraries have an established track record in offering digital engagement opportunities and in supporting our communities – even those groups considered hard to reach – to access technology, and to experience the benefits of going online.

“SLIC is looking forward to working with colleagues in the Scottish Government and in public libraries across the country to support the implementation of our national digital strategy.”

The Scottish Government published Scotland’s Digital Future – A Strategy for Scotland in March 2011, and a progress report was published in March 2012 laying out key actions for digital participation, which have libraries at the centre.

Work is currently underway on both SLIC projects and further details will be released shortly.

Changes to the joint working arrangement between SLIC and CILIPS

Following a period of discussion and consultation, Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals in Scotland (CILIPS) and Scottish Library and Information Council (SLIC) announce a separation of their joint working arrangements, shared staffing and office. Both organisations aim to continue working in tandem to benefit Librarians and Library Services in Scotland with the new arrangements allowing each organisation to maintain a clear focus on their distinctive missions.

“The Trustees of SLIC welcome the transfer of Elaine Fulton into the post of CEO for SLIC from the 1^st February 2013, working alongside Gillian Hanlon and Morag Andrew in the SLIC office. We would like to thank Catherine Kearney for her hard work on behalf of SLIC and look forward to working with her in her new post of Director of CILIPS.” (Fiona McLeod MSP, Chair of SLIC Board).

 “The Trustees of CILIPS are pleased to announce that Catherine Kearney will be the new Director of CILIPS from 1^st February 2013,” said Sheila Miller, Chair of CILIPS Council, “We look forward to working with Cathy in this new post to continue to provide CILIP members in Scotland with high quality and relevant services, support and representation. We would like to thank Elaine Fulton for all her work and assistance to CILIPS and wish her well in her work for SLIC."

Senior Trustees of SLIC

• Fiona McLeod MSP (Chair of SLIC Board)
• Moira Methven (Company Secretary)
• Helen Durndell (Vice-Chair of SLIC Board)

Senior Trustees of CILIPS

• Sheila Miller (Chair of Council)
• Audrey Walker (Hon Treasurer)
• Peter Reid (Chair of Policy and Resources committee)

Librarians chat Reader to Reader during Book Week Scotland

Library services across Scotland will be celebrating Book Week Scotland with the launch of an online book chat and reading advisory service, Reader to Reader.

The new service is part of the existing Ask Scotland virtual reference network which allows people from all over the world to have reference questions answered by Scottish librarians using a combination of email and live online chat.

Ask Scotland is a popular tool for local and family history researchers, which highlights Scotland’s rich library collections and the unique skills of local studies and reference librarians.

Reader to Reader aims to offer an added dimension to digital library services by providing professional advice and recommendations to support users on their reading journey throughout Book Week Scotland, and beyond.

Elaine Fulton, Director of the Scottish Library and Information Council (SLIC), said: “Our libraries remain a vibrant and popular place for 60% of Scots to read, discover and learn. Our libraries are at the heart of a reading nation offering a wide range of materials and activities for young and old.

“Reader to Reader has been coordinated by SLIC to allow Scottish libraries to deliver core library services, and offer our librarians’ expertise, to people in their own homes using web technologies.

“Librarians rightly have a reputation as book experts and reading enthusiasts so we’re encouraging readers to ask the experts during Book Week Scotland, whether they want to find out what to read next, who else rights like their favourite author, or to find out more about activities for book lovers going on in local libraries throughout the year.”

Reader to Reader has been developed by SLIC in collaboration with Scottish public library services and involves a dedicated team of reader development librarians drawn from across the country. The service will continue beyond Book Week Scotland, becoming a key feature of Scotland’s innovative digital library services.

Over the course of Book Week Scotland a diverse range of events is planned in libraries across the country, including 100 authors in 100 libraries. The 100 authors visiting libraries across Scotland this week included Val McDermid, Iain Banks and Janice Galloway. 

Literacy Action Plan progress report published

More than 400,000 children and their parents have benefitted from a £4 million investment to develop literacy over the past three years according to a new report published on Wednesday 12 September.

The progress report on the Scottish Government’s Literacy Action Plan shows schemes aimed at encouraging and improving reading and writing, such as PlayTalkRead and the Bookbug scheme, has reached children in their early years and their parents across Scotland since the plan was launched in October 2010. 

Minister for Learning, Science and Scotland’s Languages Dr Alasdair Allan said: “Funding for the early years aims to create a lasting legacy in improving literacy. Programmes being delivered include £1.65 million investment in the PlayTalkRead campaign, £1.5 million invested each year for the next three years to support learning for looked after children and £450,000 to extend the reach of the Bookbug initiative.

“Our work to improve literacy stretches far beyond the early years. Our pupil’s performance in exams remains strong and we aim to improve this further still. Literacy is a central part of Curriculum for Excellence and is now the responsibility of all teachers. We have also been developing partnerships and a range of support for adults to increase their knowledge and skills.

 “We will continue to build on this work to help people of all ages in Scotland develop their literacy which is so vital to making Scotland successful, progressive and inclusive. We want to work together to help people to improve their skills well beyond basic levels and thrive in modern life.”

The report recognises the key role of libraries in improving literacy, mentioning the broad range of services and events offered by libraries.