#LibrariesAreEssential Policy Responses – the Scottish Conservatives

As part of our #LibrariesAreEssential campaign in the run-up to the May 2021 Scottish Parliament 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 Conservatives.

What commitments can your party give to support libraries and librarians over the next parliament?

The Scottish Conservatives completely agree with the Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals in Scotland about the importance of access to libraries and information. The closure of libraries due to COVID-19 emphasised what a vital part of their communities they are.

What steps would your party take to ensure that local government has the resources to deliver library services that meet the community needs?

We have set out a range of measures to restore Scotland’s town centres and strengthen communities, and we would put libraries at the heart of this. Crucially, we would guarantee that local councils receive fair funding by passing on any increases in the Scottish Government budget to councils. This would ensure they have the resources to support local facilities such as libraries.

What steps does your party intend to take to combat misinformation and disinformation and do you see information professionals and libraries playing a role in these efforts?

The COVID-19 pandemic has also highlighted the threat which misinformation and disinformation can pose to our safety. We would take steps to tackle this in every part of public life, and work with librarians and information professionals to do so.

Does your party believe all school pupils should have access to both a school library and a trained professional school librarian?

Finally, we agree that access to a school library is crucial for promoting literacy and a love of reading among children and young people. Following COVID-19 school closures, this is more important than ever. We would work with local councils and schools to ensure every child has access to a school library with a trained librarian.

To return to the main campaign page and read the other policy responses we’ve received so far, please click here.