Scottish Libraries and Information Council

Scottish Libraries and Information Council
Name	Scottish Libraries and Information Council
Formation	2012
Type	Charity
Headquarters	Edinburgh
Region served	Scotland
Leader title	Chair
Leader name	Fiona Hyslop

Scottish Libraries and Information Council is a national advisory charity that promotes libraries, archives, and information services across Scotland. It engages with public institutions, cultural bodies, funding agencies, and legislative entities to advise on policy, professional development, and community outcomes. The council operates within a network that includes national libraries, local authorities, higher education institutions, cultural festivals, and heritage organizations.

History

The council was formed amid discussions involving Scottish Government, Creative Scotland, National Library of Scotland, British Library, Local Government Association, Society of Chief Librarians, Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals, Historic Environment Scotland, and Arts Council England delegates. Early consultations referenced precedents set by the Bibliographical Society, Libraries Taskforce, Public Libraries and Museums Act 1964, Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973, and the reform work of the Calman Commission. Its founding board included representatives linked to University of Edinburgh, University of Glasgow, University of Aberdeen, University of St Andrews, and Heriot-Watt University, drawing on experience from institutions such as National Records of Scotland and Scotland’s Chief Scientist Office. Major milestones referenced partnerships with Edinburgh Festival Fringe, Glasgow Life, the Scottish Book Trust, and initiatives connected to the Commonwealth Games 2014 in Glasgow. The council’s evolution tracked national debates involving Scotland Act 2012, Smith Commission, and cultural strategy papers commissioned by Transport Scotland ministers and members of the Scottish Parliament.

Structure and Governance

Governance of the council is informed by frameworks used by Charitable Incorporated Organisation, OSCR, Companies House, Scottish Charity Regulator, and boards modeled after National Museums Scotland and Royal Society of Edinburgh councils. The board has included members drawn from British Library Board, Glasgow City Council, Aberdeen City Council, Fife Council, Highland Council, Shetland Islands Council, Western Isles Council, and representatives from the Association of Chief Librarians. Senior officers liaise with directors from National Library of Scotland, Museum Galleries Scotland, NatureScot, Arts Council England, Historic Environment Scotland, and academic library heads at University of Strathclyde and Robert Gordon University. Advisory panels include professionals affiliated with Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals, Information Governance Review Board, and trade unions such as Unison and GMB Union.

Functions and Activities

The council’s remit spans advocacy for public access and literacy through initiatives aligned with Scottish Book Trust, Book Week Scotland, World Book Day, and digital inclusion programmes championed by Digital Scotland. It produces strategy documents influencing procurement frameworks used by Crown Commercial Service and contributes to policy dialogues involving Education Scotland, Skills Development Scotland, and Scottish Funding Council. Programmatic activity includes workforce development linked to qualifications from Glasgow Caledonian University, accreditation referenced by Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals, community outreach cooperating with NHS Scotland health libraries, and disaster planning coordinated with Scottish Fire and Rescue Service and Police Scotland emergency services. The council supports collections care practices reflected in guidelines from National Records of Scotland, Conservation Foundation, Collections Trust, and higher education special collections at St Andrews University Special Collections.

Partnerships and Advocacy

Partnership networks include collaborations with Local Government Association, COSLA, Libraries Connected, Museums Galleries Scotland, National Galleries of Scotland, Scottish Poetry Library, Edinburgh International Book Festival, and Glasgow International. Advocacy campaigns have referenced roles played by Members of the Scottish Parliament, Ministers for Culture, Commissioners for Children and Young People in Scotland, and civic movements such as Community Empowerment (Scotland) Act 2015 initiatives. The council has worked with European partners via ties to Cultural Programme of the European Union, exchanges with Bibliothèque nationale de France, and benchmarking with National Library of Ireland and National Library of Wales. It liaises with funding bodies including Heritage Lottery Fund, National Lottery Heritage Fund, Big Lottery Fund, European Social Fund, and philanthropic organizations like Carnegie UK Trust and Wellcome Trust.

Funding and Budget

Funding models combine grants and contracts from public funders such as Scottish Government, Scottish Public Library Standards, Local Authorities, and project funding from Creative Scotland as well as charitable grants from Carnegie Corporation of New York. Budgetary oversight follows audit practices used by Audit Scotland and financial compliance routines similar to those of National Museums Scotland and Historic Environment Scotland. The council has sought diversified income through consultancy agreements with Universities Scotland, fee-for-service training with Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals, and partnership-funded initiatives tied to European Regional Development Fund. Financial reporting aligns with standards applied by Office for National Statistics and fiscal monitoring by Scottish Parliament Finance Committee.

Impact and Evaluation

Impact assessments reference user studies comparable to those conducted by National Records of Scotland, literacy evaluations by Scottish Book Trust, and social return analyses used by Social Audit Network. Outcomes have been measured against targets set by Public Libraries and Museums Act 1964-influenced frameworks, contribution to lifelong learning noted by Education Scotland, and community wellbeing indicators used by NHS Health Scotland. Independent evaluations have drawn on methodologies from What Works Centre for Local Economic Growth, Nesta, and academic research published via University of Glasgow and University of Edinburgh research centres. The council’s influence is visible in policy shifts linked to discussions in the Scottish Parliament, service design changes within local authorities such as Edinburgh City Council and Glasgow City Council, and programme adoptions by organisations including Libraries Connected and the Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals.

Category:Libraries in Scotland Category:Charities based in Edinburgh