“We are the first place that people come when they need help, possibly the only place in a landscape of shrinking services. When we are gone then these other agencies will need to foot the time bill and the mental health crisis we are averting.”

The public Library service in Orkney is a vital part of the community but across Scotland  one in three librarians believe that their whole service is at risk of reduction or loss.

Orkney Library Service

The annual report produced by the Library service in Orkney which includes its libraries in Kirkwall, Stromness, Mobile and Home Service shows a local facility which has adapted to the changing needs of its users whilst still providing the essential element of any Library – free access to books.

People in Orkney love their Library, with 85% of its users describing it as very important, and 15% as important.

Access for all, free resources of books and other materials, free Wi-Fi, Loanable Kits, Lend and Mend, an inviting place for all ages to spend time –

In the Kirkwall building, The Orkney Archives, provides a place where people can freely access resources to research local and family history. People also contact the Archives remotely, by phone and email, worldwide. Many visitors to Orkney wander into The Archives in search of familial links. In June/July 2023, in a survey conducted by Archive staff, 70% of users rated it as 10/10.

Public Libraries Under Threat

A Survey of Public Librarians, as part of the Value and Impact of Scotland’s Libraries research, published by Scottish Book Trust, Scotland’s national book charity, revealed a vital service under threat from underinvestment. It reports:

• 82% of public libraries reported a restriction in their resources and funding
• One in three public librarians said they had lost librarians and other library staff
• One in three public librarians reported that their whole service is at risk of reduction or losses

Librarians reported a widespread lack of understanding from their local authorities about the social, long-term impact of their service.

Two thirds of the librarians surveyed reported that their community faces digital poverty, and libraries are bridging the divide.

• 96% of librarians reported that their library offers access to Wi-Fi
• 99% to computers with internet
• 71% to ebooks and eReaders
• 40% to courses in digital skills.

The Scottish Book Trust states that these are lifelines for those with limited resources, including the homeless, the elderly and those who have been released from prison. Librarians also reported that their libraries are a safe space for refugees and asylum seekers, LGBTQ+ people and disabled or neurodiverse people.

One librarian stated:

“We are the first place that people come when they need help, possibly the only place in a landscape of shrinking services. When we are gone then these other agencies will need to foot the time bill and the mental health crisis we are averting.”

The report found that “The most popular reading activities in libraries across Scotland reported by librarians were Bookbug sessions (97%), craft sessions (89%) and reading challenges (84%), followed closely by Book Week Scotland (79%), book club / cafés (73%) and author visits (67%).

Bookbug is for the earliest readers – babies and toddlers – it supports families to read, sing and play with their children from birth. The Bookbug programme gifts free bags of books and resources to all children at different stages from birth to Primary 1. Gaelic Bookbug bags are also available and we have a selection of tactile books for families and children who need additional support. Bookbug Sessions are held in libraries and other facilities where families can come together enjoying the stories and rhymes. A vital start in learning to read.

Marc Lambert, Chief Executive of Scottish Book Trust, said:

‘Libraries are a vital lifeline for communities across Scotland. Not only do they provide free access to books in a warm and safe environment, but, as this wide-ranging report reveals, they are also a levelling up factory that sends people in a positive direction.

‘There is no other public space where people can access information, combat digital poverty, learn new skills, socialise with others, express themselves creatively, and seek to self-improve, entirely for free. It’s incredibly concerning that these important institutions are endangered.’

If you would like to share your views on Scotland’s Libraries and the services they provide Scottish Book Trust is conducting a survey of public library users, which will be open for responses until the end of June 2024.

The impact of Scotland’s libraries – Scottish Book Trust

Fiona Grahame