A SENIOR librarian within East Lothian Council has picked up a national award.

Agnès Guyon was presented with the Youth Libraries Group Public Librarian Award at a national conference in Manchester.

The award has been introduced by the Youth Libraries Group UK-wide organisation, affiliated to CILIP, the professional body for librarians, to celebrate its 70th anniversary.

It recognises outstanding service delivery and development by a librarian working with children and young people in a public library setting.

Councillor Jim Goodfellow, cabinet member for community wellbeing, congratulated Agnes, who is senior librarian with children’s services at East Lothian Council.

He said: “The Youth Libraries Group Award aims to showcase best practice across the whole of the UK and it’s a tremendous achievement for Agnés to win this.

“Public libraries play a key role in learning, leisure and cultural opportunities for children and young people and Agnès and her colleagues arrange and promote a diverse number of events and initiatives that engage children’s interest and helps to foster an enjoyment of reading.”

Judges for the award were Nicola Davies, Anne Fine and Emily Drabble.

Anne and Nicola are award-winning authors, while Emily was the editor of The Guardian’s Children’s Book website.

Emily praised Haddington-based Agnes’s application and said: “This was an incredible application.

“Agnès’s energy is palpable and I’m sure totally infectious for all who encounter her.

“She obviously goes above and beyond her job description constantly with her author award, her literature festival and I was excited about her passion for graphic novels.

“I also thought the work she was doing connecting schools and libraries was important and inspiring.”