Scotland’s recent election tells us something important about the national mood (writes ALISON NOLAN).
The return of an SNP-led administration under John Swinney, the rise of the Greens, the fragmentation of traditional party loyalties, the emergence of Reform UK at Holyrood, and low voter turnout together point to a political landscape that is more divided, volatile and uncertain than at any point since devolution began.
At the same time, COSLA’s recent white paper on strengthening local democracy argues that Scotland must rebuild democratic participation and place power closer to communities. These are not separate conversations. The central question facing Scotland’s new administration is not simply how to govern, but how to rebuild trust, participation and civic confidence in an age of fragmentation.
That is where libraries matter.
For too long, libraries have been framed narrowly: as cultural amenities, repositories of books, or discretionary local services under financial pressure. Those roles remain important, but they no longer capture the full significance of libraries in modern Scotland. Libraries are democratic infrastructure.
In communities across Scotland, libraries remain among the very few public spaces that are free, trusted, accessible and open to everyone. You do not need money to enter. You do not need an appointment, a referral or permission. At a time when many civic spaces have disappeared from public life, libraries remain embedded in communities across the country.
The election exposed a growing sense of democratic disconnection. Turnout fell in many parts of the country. Political loyalties are becoming more fluid and polarised, while public debate is increasingly shaped by social media algorithms, misinformation and distrust. At the same time, Scotland’s new government faces enormous pressures, from public service reform and child poverty to digital exclusion and growing demands for more local decision-making.
Libraries can help Scotland respond to all of these challenges. Democracy is strongest when decisions are made closest to communities but local democracy requires more than changes to governance structures. It also requires trusted local spaces where people can access information, build confidence, participate in discussions and connect with one another. Libraries already provide that infrastructure.
Every day, libraries help people access digital public services, apply for jobs, develop literacy skills, connect with their communities and navigate increasingly complex information environments. They host community groups, youth activities and public events, while increasingly helping people understand online information, artificial intelligence and the digital systems shaping modern life.
In practice, libraries already do the work of democratic participation. We simply do not always describe it that way.
Imagine if libraries were recognised formally as civic participation hubs in every community: places where citizens’ assemblies, local consultations and participatory budgeting discussions could happen; where young people could develop media literacy and critical digital skills; and where communities could engage with regeneration, climate transition and public service reform.
Much of this is already happening quietly across Scotland’s library network. The challenge now is whether national policy catches up with that reality.
If Scotland is serious about prevention, community empowerment and democratic renewal, libraries cannot continue to sit at the margins of policy discussions. They should be recognised as part of Scotland’s democratic and social infrastructure, alongside schools, health services and community organisations.
Democracy depends on more than elections and institutions. It depends on trust, participation, shared spaces and equal access to information. Libraries provide all four. In the Scotland emerging from this election, that may make them more important than ever.
Alison Nolan
Chief executive, Scottish Library & Information Council (SLIC)