Libraries

Selkirk is one of the towns in the Borders that could be impacted by the potential closure of facilities

Proposed closures will 'rip the heart out of our communities'

Hawick library is one the list of potential closures

Consultants advise closing libraries and axing 50 jobs in this area

Creative workers

Ad Feature Call for more equality, diversity and inclusion in cultural sectors

Leith Theatre has reached another milestone on its journey to a bright future

Why £4.5m to save Leith Theatre means so much to locals like me Janet Christie

Val McDermid, seen with fellow author Damian Barr, at the launch of celebrations for the National Library of Scotland's 100th anniversary last month (Picture: Jeff J Mitchell)

Val McDermid's reasoning on 'library killings' cannot be faulted Scotsman comment

Culture Secretary Angus Robertson with National Librarian Amina Shah at an event at the National Library of Scotland to celebrate its centenary year (Picture: PA)

Scotsman Letters: Culture Secretary could do much to save our libraries

Culture Secretary Angus Robertson with National Librarian Amina Shah at an event at the National Library of Scotland to celebrate its centenary year. Around 20 local libraries in Scotland are facing closure amid drop in visitor numbers, a reduction in opening hours and changing ways of consuming information.

Culture Secretary: Scotland's library cuts are 'concern for everybody'

Writer Val McDermid at the launch of the National Library of Scotland's centenary year celebrations, where she spoke passionately about the power of libraries and books to open windows to the wider world. PIC: Jane Barlow/PA Wire.

Val McDermid: 'Libraries open windows that let us all fly'

Calls have been made to protect Scotland’s libraries as fresh figures show more than 40 have closed in the last decade.

Exclusive Rural areas take biggest hit in 'deeply concerning' library closures

The public library in Muir of Ord in the Highlands

I would be stranded without libraries - closures are devastating

Libraries have been closed due to council budget cuts

'Awful' budget cuts as more Scottish public toilets and libraries axed

Alison Nolan, SLIC

£450,000 public library fund to boost inclusion and sustainability across Scotla...

The Mitchell Library in Glasgow has received a jet wash.

Watch as The Mitchell Library in Glasgow receives a satisfying clean

Elder Library and Community Hub has reopened after two years

Look inside historic library gifted by a 'greatest' Glaswegians

Julie Moulsdale is Managing Director at Perceptive Communicators

Community engagement is key to a successful project - Julie Moulsdale

Central Library in Edinburgh opened in 1890, and was the first public library building in the city. Picture: Ian Georgeson

All overdue book fines to be scrapped by Edinburgh libraries

Innovative public library projects will be brought to life through a share of the PLIF

Scotland’s libraries awarded £100,000 to boost innovation across vital services

The ability to borrow the latest titles keeps Alastair Dalton returning to the library shelves. (Photo by Lisa Ferguson/The Scotsman)

Passions: Libraries my lifelong focus from social hub to latest books

Barclays will close another 14 branches in the UK

Barclays confirms more high street branch closures across the UK

A rare first edition 1996 Bloomsbury publication of Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone purchased from a library for pennies is set to fetch up to £5,000 at auction.

Harry Potter book bought for 30p turns out to be worth £5,000

Picture: Angela Weiss/AFP via Getty Images

Books about trans issues among those subject to complaints in libraries

A young volunteer sews Ukrainian flags for the Ukrainian military at a library in western Ukrainian city of Lviv on April 2, 2022. Picture: YURIY DYACHYSHYN/AFP via Getty Images)

How Ukraine’s librarians mobilised to fight the Russian culture war

CILIPS believes that removing school librarian posts 'will severely damage the quality of education they offer pupils' (file image). Picture: Matthew Horwood/Getty Images.

Pressure grows to save North Lanarkshire librarian posts

Margaret Houston, principal librarian at the Mitchell Library in Glasgow, explains how the Harry Potter books helped the library encourage more children into reading.

Libraries and Harry Potter 'opened the door' to reading for many children

Maureen Cannell with her grandchildren outside Whiteinch Library in Glasgow. Picture: John Devlin

Newspapers and public libraries have a lot in common - Catherine Salmond

Libraries are under threat of financial cuts. Picture: Jane Barlow/PA

Communities suffer when library budgets are cut - Sean McNamara

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon’s call to voters to send a message to Boris Johnson is misplaced, says Brian Monteith

Forget sending a message to Boris, address it to Bute House instead - Brian Mon...

Campaigns to reopen closed libraries in Glasgow in August 2021. Picture: John Devlin/JPIMedia

Support our Libraries: Labour hits out at SNP on its funding record

A Bookbug session at Central Children's Library in Edinburgh. Picture: John Devlin

Support Our Libraries: A celebration of Edinburgh Central Children's Library

Seven public library services are to share more than £200,000 to help them reconnect with their readers in some of Scotland’s most deprived areas. Picture by JANE BARLOW

Scottish libraries get final funding boost for Covid relief

The Lewis & Harris mobile van. Picture: contributed

It would be great if libraries did not have to be justified - Kathleen Milne

Photo credit Oliver Goulden

Support our Libraries: Protesters gather for 'read in' amid closures

Emma Newlands is fascinated by the world of memoirs. Picture: Getty Images

How my local library helped foster my addiction to memoirs - Emma Newlands

Support our Libraries: More than half of adults believe digital services are 'no substitute' for traditional libraries study finds. (Picture credit: Mikhail Tereshchenko\TASS via Getty)

Digital services are 'no substitute' for traditional libraries study finds

Campaigners have fought to get Whiteinch Library open for the past nine months. Tomorrow (Monday), it will finally open its doors. Pictured are supporters Maureen Cannell (59) with grand children, Mallory (5 months) and Mathew Gallacher, during the summer. PIC: John Devlin.

Book closes on Glasgow mass grassroots protests as libraries prepare to open

Around £400,000 has been awarded to libraries across the country. Picture: Mikhail Tereshchenko\TASS via Getty Images

Support our Libraries: Government offers up £400,000 to support projects

Scotland has always been something of a powerhouse when it comes to public libraries. Picture: Getty

Libraries were never just about books - Nick Poole

Morag Smith is national outreach development worker for Glasgow Women’s Library

How Glasgow Women’s Library fights gender inequalities - Morag Smith

Libraries are a gateway to adventure

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

Banners from protesters outside the Scottish Parliament calling for libraries to be reopened in September. Picture: Lisa Ferguson/JPIMedia

SAVE OUR LIBRARIES PROTEST AT THE SCOTTISH PARLIAMENT

Support our Libraries: 'Concern' over lack of provision in Dumfries and Galloway

Couper Institute Public Hall and Library. Picture: John Devlin/JPIMedia

Support our Libraries: ‘It’s a short-term fix for a long-term problem’

Sean McNamara, Head of the Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals in Scotland (CILIPS). Picture: Contributed

We need a funding model that allows libraries to thrive - Sean McNamara
We believe libraries are essential. They are an essential public service and provide social infrastructure when our societies and democracies need it most.

Marc Lambert, CEO, Scottish Book Trust

Libraries are linked to the values that define a nation - Marc Lambert

Author Douglas Stuart, who won the Booker Prize for his debut novel Shuggie Bain last year. Photo: Martyn Pickersgill

Douglas Stuart says Booker prize win 'transformed' his life

Scotland's libraries are under threat - what would a future without them look like? Picture by JANE BARLOW

Libraries are social security for a better Scotland - Joshua King

Robbie Morrison, winner of The Bloody Scotland Debut Crime Novel Of The Year in the The Albert Halls at Bloody Scotland, Scotland's International Crime Writing Festival in Stirling on the 17/09/2021. Picture: Paul Reich

In this age of white noise, libraries are places of reflection - Robbie Morrison

The unveiling of our Save the Couper banner, with some of regular campaigners outside the Cathcart institution.

Save our Libraries: 'Radio silence' for campaigners as they seek reopening date

Craig Russell is author of Hyde (Little, Brown) which won the McIlvanney Prize 2021. Picture: Contributed

The book that most inspired me to write was a library book - Craig Russell

The oldest lending library in Scotland at Innerpeffray, Perthshire. Picture: Contributed

Support our Libraries: history shows the crisis of the public library is not new

Chris Brookmyre. Picture: John Devlin/JPIMedia

Since Thatcher, shared public resources have been devalued - Chris Brookmyre

Colin McGeoch, from Whiteinch in Glasgow, told Scotland on Sunday that his recovery from rare solitary plasmacytoma and Poems syndrome was “helped massively” by Macmillan volunteers who he met at his local library.

SAVE OUR LIBRARIES PROTEST AT THE SCOTTISH PARLIAMENT

Support our Libraries: Glasgow cancer survivor makes impassioned plea

Ms Ó Dochartaigh, a geologist, has had Long Covid symptoms for almost 18 months.

Support our Libraries: Poetry workshops help Long Covid sufferers

Scotland on Sunday editor, Catherine Salmond. Picture: Lisa Ferguson/JPIMedia

The start of life being marked in a library blows my mind - Catherine Salmond

Extinction Rebellion Scotland's Blue Rebels perform outside the SEC in Glasgow, where the global climate change conference Cop26 will take place in November.

Scotland on Sunday readers' letters: Hosting COP26 online would be a far greene...

Alexander McCall Smith. Picture: Jayne Wright/JPIMedia

Libraries are one of our greatest public goods - Alexander McCall Smith

Campaigners: Maureen Cannell, Robert Mellish and local concept artist 'Mavis Banksy" outside Whiteinch Library.

Support our Libraries: Government's £1.25 million fund branded ‘pitiful’

The Scotsman Top Stories

Scotland has failed to meet its latest target for reductions in greenhouse gas emissions, the latest official figures show. Picture: John Giles/PA Wire

Fail: Scotland misses climate target

Pro-independence protesters with Scottish Saltire flags (top) march for Scottish independence. Picture: Andy Buchanan/AFP via Getty Images

Yousaf: Growing popular support for Yes the only way to Scottish independence

Nadine Dorries. Picture: Dan Kitwood/Getty Images

SNP MP cleared of bullying Nadine Dorries