Scotland’s Library and Information Professional of The Year 2024 – Shortlist

We’re pleased to announce that the shortlist for Scotland’s Library and Information Professional of the Year 2024 has been finalised. Read all about this year’s nominees and their outstanding achievements below. The winner will be announced at the #CILIPS24 Awards Dinner on the evening of the 3rd of June.

Kavan Stafford, Senior Librarian, NHS Lanarkshire

During Kavan’s time working as the Information Officer at The Mitchell Library in Glasgow, he has spearheaded the engagement programme for children and families. With learning loss as a result of the pandemic, Kavan has prioritised making connections with local schools and engaging young people with the library service, he even escorted a class to the library when the school was short staffed. Supporting the business offer, Kavan has worked hard to increase understanding amongst staff on the support that can be offered to homeless people. Much of this work has taken place against a backdrop of uncertainty and reduced opening hours in the face of budget cuts. His focus on external engagement has resulted in greater confidence for staff, and includes a solid initiative to support budding business entrepreneurs, delivering workshops in person and online to support those seeking to establish their own business. Kavan’s dedication in creating internal resources and briefings for library staff provided useful when a family of Ukrainian refugees were signposted to the library, the service’s improved knowledge and relationship with the Simon Community Trust provided crucial in assisting this family. Kavan’s work on the Living Knowledge Network Fantasy Exhibition working group presented 15 events linked to the exhibition with 216 individual attendances and over 6,500 visitors. Kavan is a current CILIPS Trustee, having delivered an online webinar, which he will revisit at a session at this year’s CILIPS Conference.

Claire McCormick, Assistant in Charge, Girvan Library

Claire has been nominated for this award due to her steadfast and crucial work on the implementation of the Lend and Mend Hubs in Girvan Library, receiving praise from her colleagues for her communication, ability to work strategically to deadlines and embracing professionalism at all levels. Beyond this, Claire has been involved in the establishment of groups for the local community such as an informal Spanish language lesson group, and relentlessly and successfully promoting the use of the Film Room for community screening events. She has worked to increase library membership through proactively seeking out working partnerships with publications, implementing an education outreach strategy that ensures a working relationship with primary schools and early establishments- all of which has increased the skills and awareness of the library offering and its stance in the local community. Her commitment to innovation particularly around the library as community space for the community has undoubtedly propelled the library forward at a local level making a beneficial mark on the community and staff. Claire is an outstanding and keen advocate on her role and everything that is delivered from the Library, including speaking at last year’s CILIPS23 conference.

Emma Grey, School Librarian, Forfar Academy

Emma’s commitment to having a positive impact on the lives of her service users is considerable. She strives to see the school library’s potential through the eyes of her service users and her approach elicits positive engagement from the young people. Emma has reached out to the community and facilitates nursery children’s engagement with the school library through a paired reading program. The nursery staff benefit through their CPD journey being supported and the young people in the school who take on the role of reading to the nursery children benefit from increased confidence in reading and engaging in purposeful and meaningful activity within their school community. Her impact as an outstanding member has been acknowledged by her inclusion on the CILIP 125: The next generation of Leaders list, this was further promoted when she was asked to speak at the CILIPS #Winspiration Conference, which celebrated young women in the sector on International Women’s Day. Emma is a member of the CILIPS School Library Group committee and contributes positively and effectively to shaping the strategic direction of the group and planning events for other professionals to benefit from. The libraries Emma has worked in over the last 12 months have seen a positive impact in engagement through an increase in borrowing rates and footfall, improved parental and staff engagement, and developing links with school departments which wouldn’t traditionally use the library space much.

Alison Nolan, Team Leader, Inverclyde Libraries

In 2023, Alison spearheaded a transformative initiative at Inverclyde Libraries, integrating a health and wellbeing focus into strategic planning and allowing connections with other organisations such as Alzheimer Scotland and Barnardo’s. The community, heavily affected by the Covid pandemic due to socio-economic challenges, witnessed a resurgence of communal spirit, motivating a drive to enhance health services within the library framework. Alison has made an effort to share this learning and best practice through contributing to conferences such as EDGE 2024, and creating a series of video communications to capture the impact of the numerous initiatives. Alison shared best practise, ensuring all Library Staff receive Health Literacy Training as delivered by Information Management Team from Public Health Directorate NHSGGC, thus empowering the workforce. The combination of Alison’s leadership and investment has allowed the service to work collaboratively to enable people in Inverclyde to age well, build resilience, maintain independence, and reduce reliance on traditional health and care services. Benefits for the library service include improved signposting and referral, access to training for professional development, and enhanced communication and knowledge of available services, including data sharing.