WIREDGOV

All children in Scotland to become library members.

Every child could be set to become a library member under new plans announced yesterday by First Minister Nicola Sturgeon. 

Pilot projects are being developed in every local authority area to introduce automatic library membership at key stages throughout the early years. 

The pilots – which will give all children a library card at birth, age 3 or 4 or in P1 – will also see libraries working with schools and communities to promote the services they offer to families.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon joined new P1 library members at the Mitchell Library in Glasgow to take part in a reading group.

The children are part of Glasgow Life’s pilot which will target 2,000 pupils in six areas with issues of lower literacy. As well as this, from September 7, 2015, every baby registered in the Glasgow area will be given a library membership card by the registrar. 

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said:

“Our libraries are often the hub of a local community – providing vital access to information and resources that people would otherwise not have.

“Now, thanks to £80,000 Scottish Government funding, every local authority in Scotland will trial methods to give children automatic membership to their local library.

“Libraries can empower communities – often in our most deprived areas where we know that young people can have lower levels of literacy and numeracy.

“Access to books and learning materials will help us to make sure that every child has the opportunity to get excited about reading.”

Councillor Archie Graham, Chair of Glasgow Life, added:

“An appreciation for books and an enthusiasm for reading is one of the most important gifts we can give our children.

“Not only is reading vital to improving literacy levels but it also opens up a number of opportunities throughout young people’s lives; developing valuable life-skills, signposting them on to education and employment pathways and supporting our future generations to grow and prosper as active citizens.

“I’m delighted that here in Glasgow, we have committed to supporting primary one pupils and all new born babies to become library members through the Every Child a Library Member pilot scheme, and look forward to encouraging young Glaswegians to fall in love with books through their local library service.”

Notes To Editors

Key facts about public libraries in Scotland:

• There are over 600 libraries and other service points (such as mobile libraries) in Scotland
• Libraries in Scotland are used by 61 per cent of the public
• Libraries deliver a return on investment per user of £161 per year at a cost of £21 per head of population
• Libraries lend 20 million books every year – more than the number sold in Scotland every year
• In 2013/14, public libraries received 28 million physical visitors and 13.6 million virtual visitors
• Libraries provide over 200 courses to support digital skills development
• In 2013/14, public libraries in Scotland provided nine million hours of internet access

A new National Strategy for Libraries ‘Ambition and Opportunity: A Strategy for Public Libraries in Scotland 2015-2020’ was published on 2 June 2015 http://scottishlibraries.org/advocacy/national-strategy/