Inverclyde Libraries recognised for commitment to local community
Inverclyde Council’s libraries service has been recognised on the national stage for supporting the community’s health and wellbeing.
It won the ‘Library Service Excellence’ Highly Commended award at the Scottish Library & Information Council (SLIC) Awards in Glasgow on Friday 3 November 2023.
Libraries team leader Alison Nolan accepted the prize on behalf of Inverclyde Council and the service.
Inverclyde Libraries was praised for undertaking a strong consultation and engagement process which led to a highly impressive and comprehensive set of partnerships and libraries services.
Delivering across SLIC’s six key strategic aims of advocacy, standards, innovation, partnership, funding and research, the judges said the team had presented ‘an aspirational and ambitious programme for the whole of the Inverclyde community’.
Councillor Jim Clocherty, Inverclyde Council’s convener of education and communities, said: “This is worthy recognition for the hard work of our libraries service working so closely with people in the communities they serve and with a range of partner organisations to improve the lives of residents.
“Reading is the essence of what libraries are all about and reading on its own can be so beneficial for people’s health and wellbeing because there is nothing quite like unwinding with a good book, free of charge.
“But we know that our libraries offer so much more than free access to books and computers, they are at the forefront of bringing communities together through events, activities, classes, and workshops, and pioneering new initiatives encouraging biodiversity, recycling, and much more.
“Well done to all our libraries staff for this award in recognition of the work they do serving our communities.”
The SLIC Awards recognise the outstanding levels of commitment, creativity and value libraries offer people and the communities they serve, acknowledging those demonstrating exceptional innovation and service design between the period from June 2022 to June 2023.
Professor Ian Ruthven, SLIC Chair and head of the awards judging panel, said: “We have again seen an incredible range of innovation, thoughtful interventions, and inspiring local leadership from Scotland’s library services.
“As well as providing core library services, Scotland’s libraries continue to offer ambitious responses to the big issues facing our local communities, including tackling climate change, mitigating the cost-of-living crisis, improving attainment and supporting health and wellbeing.”
The awards were open to all SLIC members, with the winners receiving a trophy and cash prize for their success.
SLIC is the independent advisory to the Scottish Government on library and information related matters.
Its role is to support and promote the social and economic development of Scotland's communities and offers leadership focus and support to libraries and information services countrywide, leading development, promoting innovation and monitoring standards.
More information about SLIC and the awards visit scottishlibraries.org