Tag: SLIC Awards

Edinburgh-based library service showcases power to transform communities on SLIC Awards shortlist

The National Library of Scotland has been shortlisted for the Scottish Library and Information Council (SLIC) Awards, celebrating the teams and projects transforming communities across the country.

From tackling social isolation and widening access to learning to bringing people together through creativity, this year’s nominations span a diverse range of initiatives across the Team of the Year and Project Excellence categories.

This year’s awards also mark the launch of the Jacqueline Geekie Award for Excellence in Digital Innovation, recognising individuals or teams who embody the creativity, collaboration and encouragement of the late Jacqueline Geekie, a valued colleague and digital pioneer within Scotland’s library community.

Selected by an independent judging panel led by SLIC Chair Alan Clarke, alongside guest judges Garrett Baylor Stell, a journalist with The Herald’s specialist education team, and Susan Calcluth, Scotland Lead for the National Year of Reading 2026, the shortlist recognises six teams and projects that together demonstrate the breadth of ambition and impact across Scotland’s library sector.

The National Library of Scotland has been shortlisted for the Project Excellence Award 2026 with their project Experiences of Rain. This intercultural project explored rain as a shared element of natural and cultural heritage, bringing together seven co-creators with lived experience of migration to share memories, stories and cultural perspectives.

Through creative workshops at the National Library of Scotland at Kelvin Hall in Glasgow, participants explored Library collections and worked with poet and storyteller Dr Tawona Sitholé and sound artist Ros Fraser to create a sound installation for the library’s 2026 Rain exhibition.

The project supported intercultural learning, creativity and connection, with the installation forming a central part of the exhibition, which attracted a record 28,531 visitors in its first two months.

The three services shortlisted for ‘Team of the Year 2026’ are–

  • Glasgow Life – Libraries Development Team: Delivered Wee Write Book Festival 2026, which reached 2,681 pupils through its education programme and welcomed more than 1,000 attendees to Family Day.
  • Midlothian Library Service: Expanded the role of libraries as community hubs through literacy initiatives, cost-of-living support, digital inclusion and accessible services shaped around local needs.
  • University of Glasgow – Library and Information Studies MSc Team: Established a new CILIP-accredited postgraduate qualification, creating a flexible route into the profession and developing the skills needed by future library and information specialists.

The other services shortlisted for ‘Project Excellence 2026’ are –

  • Glasgow Life – EDI Change Making: Leadership Insights & Practice Development: Built national expertise in inclusive library services through a leadership programme completed by 81 participants from 13 local authorities, delivering more than 1,500 hours of learning.
  • Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow – Maximising Audubon’s The Birds of America: Combined conservation and digitisation with public engagement, increasing visitors to the collection from 351 to 1,478 in just four months.

The winners will be announced at the SLIC Showcase and AGM on Friday 6 November 2026 at The Barracks in Stirling, alongside the winner of the inaugural Jacqueline Geekie Award, established as a lasting tribute to Jacqueline’s contribution to the profession and the encouragement she gave colleagues to explore new possibilities.

SLIC Chair Alan Clarke said: “Across Scotland, teams are developing services that respond to changing community needs, opening up new opportunities for learning and creativity, and making collections and expertise accessible to more people.

“This year’s shortlist reflects that ambition, with projects and teams demonstrating both measurable results and meaningful change for the people they serve. The introduction of the Jacqueline Geekie Award is also an important opportunity to recognise the role of digital innovation in shaping the future of libraries, while celebrating a colleague who inspired so many across our sector.

“Congratulations to all those shortlisted. We look forward to celebrating their achievements at our Showcase and AGM in November.”

The SLIC Awards are open to all SLIC member libraries, which includes public library services, further and higher education libraries, and specialist libraries across Scotland.

This year’s awards recognise work undertaken between June 2025 and June 2026.

East Lothian library services celebrated in national awards shortlist

East Lothian Libraries is in the spotlight as the shortlist is announced for the annual Scottish Library and Information Council (SLIC) Awards.

Celebrating the teams and projects transforming communities across the country, from innovative literacy programmes to inclusive community hubs, this year’s nominees showcase how libraries are evolving to meet local needs, spark creativity and improve wellbeing.

copyright photo by Paul Chappells 07774730898

Judged by an independent panel, led by SLIC Chair Alan Clarke, alongside guest judges Garrett Baylor Stell, education journalist, and Scottish author and presenter Helen Cross, renowned for her work promoting libraries and literacy across Scotland, the SLIC Awards 2025 recognise library teams and projects that go beyond traditional services, driving social impact, learning and inclusion across Scotland.

Showcasing their creativity, innovation and community impact, eight services have been shortlisted across two categories – Team of the Year and Project Excellence – including East Lothian Libraries, shortlisted for Team of the Year 2025 due to their community centred services, showcasing how the library service has supported both public and school libraries while addressing local challenges.

Despite budget pressures and reduced staffing, the team maintained high quality provision across 12 libraries and seven secondary schools, integrating school and public library services, delivering tailored community programmes and fostering strong partnerships with health, education and third sector organisations.

Initiatives ranged from dementia-friendly groups and digital inclusion sessions to innovative activities like gardening clubs, mending workshops and family learning cafés.

The team also advanced literacy strategies through Reading Schools accreditation and bespoke school library policies, while ensuring inclusive, flexible services for vulnerable groups.

With increased visits, broad community engagement and strong evidence of impact, East Lothian Libraries has positioned themselves as trusted hubs for learning, wellbeing and resilience.

Guest judge Helen Cross commented: “This is a team that has shown what can be achieved through new initiatives and thinking outside the box, while also making a positive impact on those they reach.”

The others shortlisted for ‘Team of the Year 2025’ are –

  • East Dunbartonshire Leisure and Culture Trust – Transforming community engagement in Milngavie and Lennoxtown: Revitalised local libraries through events, crafts and mindfulness sessions, turning quiet spaces into bustling community hubs.
  • University of the West of Scotland Library Service – Service review implementation: Modernised services to focus on learning, research and student engagement, creating specialist teams and stronger institutional impact.
  • Aberdeenshire Libraries – HMP Grampian Prison Library Team: Developed a ‘Foreign Language Prison Phrase Book’, improving communication, inclusion and safety in the prison environment.

The four projects shortlisted for the ‘Project Excellence 2025’ award are –

  • Live Borders Libraries – Mobile libraries summer storytelling: Brought Bookbug and storytelling sessions to over 1,000 children and families across the Borders during summer holidays.
  • East Renfrewshire Culture and Leisure – Sensory magic: Introduced sensory-friendly spaces and features for neurodivergent visitors, providing a model for inclusive library services.
  • Glasgow Women’s Library – Opening the door: Celebrated adult literacy learners through exhibitions, film and creative workshops, boosting confidence and community engagement.
  • South Ayrshire Libraries – Girvan Library Lend + Mend Hub: Created a hub for borrowing tools, mending and upcycling, tackling social isolation and promoting sustainability in the community.
photo by Paul Chappells

SLIC chair, Alan Clarke (above), who is leading the judging panel, said: “The SLIC Awards celebrate the remarkable work of library teams and projects across Scotland, recognising the difference they make in enriching learning, wellbeing and community connection.

“This year’s shortlist highlights services that continue to evolve, delivering inclusive, imaginative and highly impactful initiatives that respond directly to the needs of the people they serve. It’s inspiring to see excellence in action through outstanding service, collaborative teamwork and innovative project delivery that truly makes a lasting difference.

“Congratulations to the eight services shortlisted for the 2025 SLIC Awards. We look forward to inviting the nominees to celebrate their achievements with us when we announce the award winners at our Showcase and AGM next month.”

These shortlists will be whittled down to just one winner and one highly commended for each category at the SLIC AGM and Showcase on 31 October where services will be recognised for their outstanding commitment and strategic approach to ensuring library services continue to add value to the community.

The SLIC Awards are open to all SLIC member libraries, which includes public library services, many further education and higher education libraries, and specialist libraries throughout Scotland, with winners receiving a trophy and cash prize for demonstrating exceptional innovation and service design for activity undertaken between June 2024 and June 2025.

East Lothian and Inverclyde Library teams claim top prizes at SLIC awards

Library Services teams in East Lothian and Inverclyde have been recognised for their outstanding contributions to their local communities by picking up the top prizes at Scotland’s leading sector awards ceremony.

The Scottish Library & Information Council’s (SLIC) awards for ‘Library Service Excellence’ and ‘Project of the Year’ were handed out on Friday (28 October) at a ceremony in Glasgow, with the East Lothian and Inverclyde teams pipping three other shortlisted library service teams in each category for the prestigious accolades.

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 2021 to June 2022.

SLIC Chair, Professor Ian Ruthven, who led the awards judging panel (which included Ruth Plowden, Writer/Fundraiser/Chair Edinburgh UNESCO City of Literature Trust and Catherine Salmond, Editor of The Herald) said the quality of entries for the 2022 competition had been exceptional.

“We were all really impressed by the range of innovations and commitment to local communities shown by the nominations.   What was characteristic of each of the entries was this strong relationship between libraries and their communities; identifying local needs, working with communities to use the skills of libraries and library staff to improve people’s lives, and putting libraries at the heart of their communities.

“So often when reading the entries, we thought ‘only a library can do this’.

“Last year we found it hard to select a winner, so this year we created two awards, one for ‘Project of the Year’ and one for ‘Library Service of the Year’.  This only made it harder…so for the first time, we have a winner in each category and a highly commended award.   Huge congratulations to all involved.”

East Lothian’s Library Services team had been shortlisted for the SLIC ‘Library Service Excellence Award’ for their activities on the theme of ‘championing the local community’.

East Lothian is served by 12 local branches, six secondary schools, a local history centre and a Library HQ. Between July 2021 and June 2022, the service welcomed 4,584 new members and facilitated 243,538 loans (an increase of 60 per cent from the previous year) across local sites.

Their entry described East Lothian’s commitment to involving the whole community, notably through the creation of two new Community Librarian posts. The entry also highlighted clubs, events, author visits, imaginative use of digital and other activities which together delivered a thriving local library service.

Shetland Libraries (who were highly commended), High Life Highland Libraries and Inverclyde Libraries were also nominated in the category.

In the SLIC ‘Project of the Year’ category, the Inverclyde Libraries team had been shortlisted for their focus on sustainability ahead of and linked to the COP26 Summit in Glasgow.

The project aim was to stimulate long-term public engagement in the lead up to and following COP26, and it was described as ‘inspirational’ in the way in which it grew the sense of community.

It linked the ‘local’ to the ‘global’ through author events, involving members of the community, including those in the prison population who are not often included in climate conversations, and contributed to the circular economy through lend-and-mend hubs. 

The judging panel felt the project was ‘a powerful and cohesive project that acts as a model for others.’

Aberdeen City Libraries (who were highly commended), East Lothian Library Services and Falkirk Libraries were also nominated in the category.

The 2022 Awards were open to all SLIC members, with the winners receiving a trophy and cash prizes for their success.

The Awards were sponsored by Innovative who provide comprehensive technology suites for public libraries.

For more information on the SLIC Awards, visit: 

The SLIC Awards (scottishlibraries.org)