Pressure has been mounting this week to safeguard the jobs of school librarians in North Lanarkshire, with a petition securing support from the head of the National Library of Scotland and Scottish writer Damian Barr.

The Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals in Scotland (CILIPS) said this week it was “deeply” concerned to hear of plans to remove school librarian posts by North Lanarkshire Council (NLC).

The decision was made as part of the local authority’s budget process in 2020 but has been delayed due to various factors including the pandemic. However, the council earlier this month acted to axe the jobs.

CILIPS said its entire workforce has signed a petition on change.org in support of the librarians, and has already secured more than 2,500 signatures.

Save our Libraries: Time travel with a library card - Liam Rudden

The petition states that NLC’s policy to abolish school librarians is “an assault on our young people reaching their potential”.

Support our Libraries: Pressure grows to safeguard threatened North Lanarkshire school librarian posts