Cabinet Secretary for Culture announces new memory group project across Scottish public libraries

Category: News

Fiona Hyslop, Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Fair Work and Culture, announces that a £100,000 award from Public Library Improvement Fund (PLIF) has been awarded to tackle isolation and loneliness in Scotland. The Library Reminiscence Project is partnering with the Scottish Football Museum to build memory groups in libraries across Scotland. The project will create groups that allow members to make connections and share stories, with topics from food and shopping to childhood and leisure. The Scottish Football Museum already has success with this model and libraries will benefit from their expertise. 

Pamela Tulloch, CEO at Scottish Library and Information Council (SLIC), said: “Social isolation is an issue that our libraries play a key role in helping to combat through their close connections with local communities and this project will provide an even stronger focus for it. Memory groups provide an excellent way for people to learn new skills, reminisce and most importantly create an environment for people to make new connections, local to them. We have already received widespread interest from libraries across the country, eager to adopt the project and I look forward to seeing it really come to life over the next few months.”

Since its inception in 2006, PLIF has supported the drive to transform Scotland’s public library landscape. It plays a key role in helping library services improve the lives of individuals and communities alike. PILF has supported a wide range of past projects. You can view them here.