Thirteen public library services secure funding for innovative community projects
Public libraries across Scotland are set to deliver innovative projects addressing social challenges, supported by a share of a £230,000 investment from the Public Library Improvement Fund (PLIF). The funding, administered by the Scottish Library & Information Council (SLIC) on behalf of the Scottish Government, will support 14 projects across 13 public library services in 2026/27.
These projects demonstrate how libraries are responding to community needs, including boosting reading for pleasure, tackling digital exclusion, supporting New Scots, combating misinformation, and encouraging sustainable living. The initiatives range from new book festivals to inclusive creative spaces and community outreach efforts.
In South Ayrshire, the funding will support the inaugural South Ayrshire Book Festival, aiming to encourage under-represented groups to become active library users. Aberdeen will see young people co-create a city-wide children’s book festival focused on reading for pleasure, while Perth and Kinross’s Reading Beyond Words project will use creative storytelling and sensory experiences to engage children, young people, and families, including those with Additional Support Needs.
Other projects focus on integrating new residents and enhancing community skills. East Dunbartonshire will transform an underused space into a Makerspace and Creative Learning Hub to bring New Scots and established residents together. Glasgow will pilot “A Warm Glasgow Welcome,” a model designed to help refugees, people seeking asylum, and other New Scots access library services with targeted visits, ESOL pathways, and translated resources.
Libraries are also addressing the digital world, with projects in Aberdeenshire and Angus developing community understanding of AI, misinformation, scams, and AI-generated content. Outreach initiatives include Orkney’s portable library kits and Dundee’s Community Audio Heritage Hub, enabling access to oral history collections and new recordings.
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Màiri McAllan, Cabinet Secretary for Education, Culture and Gaelic, stated: “Libraries are at the heart of our communities and this investment shows the breadth of what they can achieve when given the chance to innovate. From encouraging a love of reading in our children to welcoming New Scots and helping people navigate AI and misinformation, these 14 projects demonstrate how libraries are adapting to the changing needs of their communities.”
Alison Nolan, chief executive of SLIC, added: “PLIF enables library services to test new approaches, build partnerships and respond to local priorities, and this year’s projects demonstrate the breadth of innovation taking place across Scotland’s libraries, from reading and community engagement to digital inclusion and skills development.”
The PLIF is an annual programme supporting creative, sustainable, and innovative public library projects and aligns with Fast Forward: Scotland’s Public Library Strategy Refresh 2026. This investment comes as Scotland prepares for Wee Read, a national reading moment on Wednesday 7 October 2026, part of the National Year of Reading 2026.
