FUNDING FOR VITAL COMMUNITY RESOURCE

South Scotland SNP MSP, Emma Harper has welcomed a new Scottish Government fund which will allow libraries to re-connect with their communities as part of Scotland’s recovery from the pandemic.

The Public Libraries COVID Recovery Fund is worth more than £1 million and will allow libraries in Scotland to re-connect with their communities as part of Scotland’s recovery from the pandemic.

The fund, which will be distributed through the Scottish Library and Information Council (SLIC), will support libraries in re-opening or extending their opening hours, as well as fund targeted plans for issues such as digital exclusion or mental health and wellbeing. While priority will be given to applications which support deprived areas and communities, all library services across Scotland are invited to apply for the fund, which is a commitment made in the new Programme for Government.

South Scotland MSP, Emma Harper, commented;

“I welcome the Scottish Government’s Public Libraries COVID Recovery Fund and hope that through this support the power of libraries to inform, educate, entertain and inspire can be unlocked again as part of the recovery from the COVID pandemic.

“Our local library services play an important role in our small, rural communities and I am pleased to see this support in place to help as many libraries re-open as possible Libraries aren’t just important for access to books, important though that is, they are also centres which allow for people to access online resources, training, job applications and other vitally important activities and it is right that they are being supported.”

Background
The commitment is in the Programme for Government document available to read on the Scottish Government website: www.gov.scot/programme-for-government/ <www.gov.scot/programme-for-government/>