EAST Lothian Council Library Services has been recognised for its commitment to the local community at the Scottish Library & Information Council (SLIC) Awards.
The service was shortlisted for its community health and wellbeing hubs, which first focused on staff wellbeing and later informed and inspired new health and wellbeing support projects in the local community.
The organisation was highly commended for its work and presented with a trophy at a ceremony on November 3 at the University of Strathclyde Technology and Innovation Centre in Glasgow.
Caroline Messer, of East Lothian Council Library Services, picked up the trophy at the ceremony.
The judging panel was led by SLIC chair Professor Ian Ruthven; Marion Sinclair, CEO of Publishing Scotland; and Marc Lambert, chief executive of the Scottish Book Trust.
Prof Ruthven said: “We have again seen an incredible range of innovation, thoughtful interventions and inspiring local leadership from Scotland’s library services.
“As well as providing core library services, Scotland’s libraries continue to offer ambitious responses to the big issues facing our local communities, including tackling climate change, mitigating the cost-of-living crisis, improving attainment and supporting health and wellbeing.”
It was noted that the East Lothian project had “led to a very remarkable set of health and wellbeing activities for the people of East Lothian”.
The library service finished runner-up to Inverclyde Libraries, who were the overall winners in the category.
Councillor Colin McGinn, cabinet member for community wellbeing, said: “Our library services have achieved top recognition in successive years in these excellence awards and it was a privilege to be shortlisted again this year.
“Whilst libraries have adapted to changes within society in recent years, with an increase in resources available in electronic form, they firmly remain important hubs in local communities and a source of advice, information and support.”
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