LIBRARIES in Dumfries and Galloway are set to receive a share of £200,000 to expand its collection of books in Gaelic, Ukrainian and Scots.
The region’s libraries are among 13 services to receive a grant from the 2024/25 Public Library Improvement Fund. Administered by the Scottish Library and Information Council (SLIC) on behalf of the Scottish Government, the fund supports initiatives designed to inspire engagement across areas such as digital upskilling, sustainability and inclusivity.
Among them is the ‘Cultural Connections’ project which will see the expansion of the libraries Gaelic and Ukrainian collections across all libraries, as well the curation of collections for other New Scots in the region. Launch events will be held to celebrate the expansion and invite users with diverse cultural backgrounds to meet and connect.
Alison Nolan, chief executive of SLIC, said: “Public libraries offer truly diverse value to their communities. They provide access to vital services and resources, a wealth of social activities and are hubs for expression and creativity.
“Investment is so important for the continued provision of these services, and the Public Library Improvement Fund is one of the ways in which we bolster our public libraries.
“People, place and partnership are the pillars of our strategy for Scotland’s libraries, and this year’s winners captured the spirit of that vision. These thirteen projects expand on the vision of a library as solely a centre of literacy – they encourage civil engagement, expand people’s skill sets and celebrate the richness of local heritage.”
