#LibrariesAreEssential Policy Responses – the Scottish National Party

As part of our #LibrariesAreEssential – Scotland’s Stories campaign in the run-up to the May 2022 local government elections, we asked the main parties standing for election in Scotland to answer a short series of questions about how their policies meet the needs of Scotland’s libraries and librarians. Below are the responses we received from the Scottish National Party.

• Would your successful councillors provide consistent funding to all libraries to ensure they can continue to support education, digital and information literacy, health and wellbeing, economic wellbeing and access to information?
• How would you empower libraries to deliver the new National Strategy for Public Libraries and to ensure that quality library services are a key part of future community planning?
• Would you ensure that school libraries are properly resourced so they can be key components of curriculum delivery and that all learners have access to a trained librarian?
• Would you value and support libraries and information professionals in their vital role in combating misinformation, which is damaging society and eroding democracy?

Kelly Parry, the SNP’s council election campaign director, said:

‘All SNP local councillors elected on May 5th will do so on a manifesto that recognises the importance that public libraries have in their local communities and a firm belief that everyone should have access to library services.

Libraries are vital for improving mental health and wellbeing, tackling social isolation, closing the digital divide and reducing the attainment gap.

Public libraries are crucial for our communities and the SNP’s £1.25 million Public Library Covid Relief Fund will help public libraries remain open. The fund will support 23 projects across Scotland to remain open, while re-connecting communities with their libraries.

Despite cuts from Westminster and scaremongering from Labour the SNP’s commitment to libraries is unwavering. In the face of inevitable furore over library closure – we have protected libraries better than any other UK nation, all of which have seen more libraries close than Scotland (source – Written question and answer: S6W-06841 | Scottish Parliament Website).’

To return to the main campaign page and discover why #LibrariesAreEssential to Scotland’s stories now more than ever, please click here.