NATIONAL Award Honour For Inverclyde Libraries

INVERCLYDE’S library service has been recognised as providing exceptional service by the Scottish Library and Information Council (SLIC).

It was highly commended by judges in the SLIC Award 2021 which highlighted the talent, innovation, and achievement of library teams throughout Scotland during the pandemic. East Lothian were the winners.

Inverclyde, as the runner-up, was praised for its focus on digital support.

The judges saw a service that responded to the needs of their community by offering a range of digital solutions, skills training, and an extensive use of online events to keep the community connected and engaged.

It was felt that the Inverclyde entry demonstrated a clarity of thinking about how technology can enhance library services and had a strong sense of purpose in creating a robust digital service.

Professor Ian Ruthven, chair of the board of trustees at SLIC and chair of the award judging panel, said: “Recognising libraries for outstanding work is an important part of our role at SLIC, and the reason ‘The SLIC Award’ was established.

“The standard of entries was high, and demonstrated just how much effort has been made by staff and services over the last 19 months to ensure users were still able to access library resources.

“We know that isolation and loneliness are growing problems, and our library services have worked hard to tackle this throughout the pandemic.

“Inverclyde library staff should be very proud of their achievement.”

Councillor Jim Clocherty, depute leader of Inverclyde Council and convener of education and communities, said:

“This is worthy recognition for our libraries service for all their hard work and imaginative thinking during the heights of the pandemic to ensure important services were maintained and to keep customers engaged during the various lockdowns when buildings were closed and we all had to stay at home.

“As well as making sure our residents could still access and enjoy books while stuck in the house for long periods, our staff realised the growing importance placed on digital technology to keep us all connected for work, to keep in touch with friends and family or to keep us entertained and they offered much-needed help and support for those who were new to the world of the internet and digital devices or who were not as tech-savvy.

“Well done to the team for being honoured with this award, which reaffirms Inverclyde’s position at the forefront of library services in the country.”