Under 16s are no longer able to access the original Libby site, which only has adult titles on it now.
Over 16s can access both versions of Libby and can easily move between them using the existing service.
Existing loans and holds
Any existing loans and holds placed on child or teen titles will now be accessible from the new Kids & Teens site. Please see the instructions regarding adding the Edinburgh Kids & Teens library to the app (or using the web version).
Titles that have been fully downloaded on the existing site should be available to read there until the end of their loan period.
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)
We’re busy finalising the set up at our new temporary library building at Davidson’s Mains Primary School, and we’re looking forward to opening and sharing the space with the community.
Unfortunately we’ve experienced some delays with finishing the building works and installing some of the furniture. This means we’ve had to postpone the planned opening of the library by a few weeks.
We’ll announce the opening date via our website in the coming weeks:
Primary pupils from across Haddington enjoyed a visit from children’s author Joseph Coelho at Knox Academy as part of their Reading Schools celebrations.
Pupils from five local primary schools gathered at Knox Academy for the special event which was organised by Scottish Book Trust, with help from school librarian Emma Robertson.
The event was part of an initiative to encourage schools in East Lothian to sign up to the Reading Schools programme. Its aim was to show children how much fun reading and creative writing can be, through the experience of an author visit.
The successful Reading Schools programme is developed by Scottish Book Trust, the national charity changing lives with reading and writing. It helps schools build a reading culture, where every pupil is encouraged to feed their imagination through books. Schools can work their way through three levels of accreditation – Core, Silver and Gold – and each step is a transformational process for pupils, staff, and the wider school community.
Joseph Coelho OBE is an award-winning children’s author who was Waterstones Children’s Laureate from 2022 to 2024. He won the 2024 Carnegie Medal for Writing. The London-born writer is a champion of school libraries, and he has also been praised for making poetry accessible.
He says: ‘It was a blast sharing the world of Relic Hamilton Genie Hunter with pupils at Knox Academy, with the brilliant Scottish BookTrust. Pupils asked wonderful questions and shared their wishes to make the world a better place.’
Emma Robertson, School Librarian at Knox Academy, said: ‘Having authors like Joe visit schools really makes a difference to our young people as they can meet the person behind the books and get the chance to interact with them in a fun and inclusive way.
“ Now more than ever, we need beautiful stories to inspire and delight us and Joe’s talent certainly shone through to inspire the next generation of writers and artists.
‘It takes a special person to be able to have the adults laughing along with the children and Joe kept all of us mesmerised. We really appreciated all the work that went into the event itself, and it is certainly one our pupils and staff will not forget for a long time.’
Marc Lambert, CEO of Scottish Book Trust said: ‘We were delighted to support Joseph Coelho’s visit to Knox Academy. An author visit allows pupils to fully experience the magic of books, and encourages them to find pleasure in reading.
‘It also supports the work of our Reading Schools programme. So far, 629 schools have been accredited as Reading Schools, and there are a further 705 schools currently working towards their very first Reading Schools accreditation. This means that over 50% of Scotland’s schools are now engaged in the programme.
‘An accreditation is a fantastic accomplishment for pupils and teachers alike, and achieving this status is a way of demonstrating a school’s commitment to developing vibrant reading cultures and the many benefits this brings.’
Four innovative projects across Scotland’s libraries and information services have secured a share of £34,000 from the Scottish Library and Information Council’s (SLIC) Innovation and Development Fund, supporting new ideas that will shape the future of learning, research and access to information.
Now in its 14th year, the fund backs bold initiatives from across Scotland’s library network, helping services test new approaches, develop fresh resources and respond to the changing needs of communities and learners.
The latest round of funding will champion projects ranging from a Scots language learning course for prison libraries to an affordable journal publishing scheme through Scottish Universities Press:
Read tae rise: Scots language and library learning with Scotland’s prisons
The National Library of Scotland has received just over £9,500 to develop a new Scots language course and resource pack for prison libraries.
Co-created with learners, the course will draw on the library’s historic and contemporary collections while highlighting the role of libraries as powerful tools for lifelong learning and cultural connection.
Robert Gordon University Library: developing future library designs
Robert Gordon University Library has secured just under £5,000 for a student-led design concept project that will explore the future of its library spaces. Students from the School of Law & Social Sciences and the Scott Sutherland School of Architecture & Built Environment will collaborate to gather user insights and produce draft design concepts to inform future library redevelopment.
Delivering a journal publishing programme through Scottish Universities Press
The University of Dundee has been awarded £12,500 to pilot a journal publishing programme through Scottish Universities Press.
The initiative will test a sustainable, high-quality alternative to traditional academic journal publishing models, offering a more affordable and accessible route for scholarly research.
University of Strathclyde: decolonising academic libraries in Scotland
At University of Strathclyde, the iSchool has received £7,200 to work with academic libraries across Scotland to develop clear, practical guidance on applying decolonisation principles in library services and collections.
The outputs will include accessible guidelines and infographics designed to support library staff in turning shared ambitions around inclusion and representation into everyday practice.
The Innovation and Development Fund, administered and financed by SLIC, is designed to support organisations that fall outside the remit of other annual funding programmes, such as the Public Library Improvement Fund (PLIF) and the School Library Improvement Fund (SLIF).
This includes further education and higher education institutions, as well as specialist libraries and information services. All projects link to SLIC’s strategic pillars of Standards, Leadership, Information and Collaboration.
Alison Nolan, chief executive of SLIC, said: “Scotland’s libraries and information services continue to adapt and innovate, creating resilient, future-proofed environments that respond to the evolving needs of their users.
“The Innovation and Development Fund plays an important role in supporting that progress by backing bold, forward-thinking ideas.
“The projects awarded funding this year demonstrate the creativity and ambition across the sector, from empowering people through language and culture to rethinking how knowledge is created, shared and accessed.”
Since 2013, the SLIC Innovation and Development Fund has awarded over £425,000 to over 40 projects.
Previous initiatives have included a TED Talk style ‘health conversations’ webinar series developed by NHS Ayrshire and Arran Health Board Library, a literacy and numeracy course by Glasgow Women’s Library, and the creation of a podcast studio at the University of the Highlands and Islands Moray campus.
For more information about the Innovation and Development Fund, visit:
Libraries across Edinburgh are celebrating after being recognised at the prestigious Library of the Year Award at The British Book Awards 2026.
The collaborative work of Oxgangs Library, Saughton Library at HMP Edinburgh and the Mobile Library Service have been named Scotland Regional and Country Winner for Library of the Year.
Their Secret Santa Project saw individuals in custody receive specially selected library books, gift-wrapping them so recipients would have something meaningful to open on Christmas Day.
The partnership will now go forward for the overall Library of the Year Award, with the final winner to be announced at The British Book Awards 2026.
Alongside the regional win, other Edinburgh libraries were also recognised as finalists in the Scotland category.
Kirkliston and South Queensferry Library were recognised for their role supporting children and young people through transition between primary school and high school by working with local schools to promote literacy, encourage reading for pleasure and expand educational opportunities for children and young people in the local areas.
Meanwhile, Craigmillar Librarywas shortlisted for their work with young people to create a teenage book group, where the young people have not only developed a love of reading, they have also learned new skills in areas such as creative writing and research.
Culture and Communities Convener Margaret Graham said: “I’m absolutely delighted that we’ve been recognised as a Regional and Country winner for Library of the Year. This achievement is testament to the dedication and creativity of the teams at Oxgangs, Saughton Library at HMP Edinburgh and our Mobile Libraries service, whose hard work has made this possible.
“They delivered a thoughtful Secret Santa initiative that provided gift-wrapped books for people in custody at what can be a particularly lonely time of year. The project not only helped boost participation with the library but brought comfort to so many.
“My congratulations also go to the teams at Craigmillar and Kirkliston and South Queensferry Libraries who were recognised as finalists.
I’m so proud that we have such a fantastic library service across the whole city.”
