With the Scottish election approaching, libraries could play a central role in tackling inequality, boosting wellbeing and supporting communities – if the next government chooses to invest, says Sean McNamara.

As we look beyond the Scottish Parliament election in May, the incoming government will have an opportunity to set out a clear plan for the future of our nation, and libraries staffed by skilled library workers can be at the centre of that.

For too long our library sector has been in survival mode, living year to year often helping our communities and users do the same. However, some recent developments have set the scene for a more positive future for our libraries, assuming the next Scottish Government is willing to take that forward.

In the lead up to the election the Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals in Scotland (CILIPS) have been reinforcing this point to candidates and making it clear that libraries, librarians and other information professionals are part of the answer to many of the significant challenges Scotland is facing.

Millions are using their libraries in Scotland, and it is clear librarians are vital in providing access to books and resources, improving the life chances of so many and reducing inequality - a factor that is especially important in the National Year of Reading. A wealth of evidence links reading with reducing poverty and increasing wellbeing and our libraries' role in that should not be underestimated.

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Libraries provide significant health and wellbeing services and reduce social isolation, saving the NHS potentially up to £3.2m a year. They are also reducing digital exclusion which has a significant financial impact, in fact researchers have estimated that the services a typical branch library provides in a year can be worth £1 million, which inputs into economic growth.

Alongside this, libraries and their staff are supporting awareness of the climate crisis as well as fighting censorship, as we have seen recently in a school library in the north of England. Meanwhile, in the United States we have seen institutions being a resource for communities facing disasters, providing information and refuge. They are absolutely essential services in times of global uncertainty and change.

However, each year our library workers face fears over their jobs or concerns about service cuts. This needs to end. As highlighted in the recent Feminist Librarianship book edited by CILIPS Kirsten MacQuarrie, research shows that £1 invested in libraries can generate a return in social value of £6.95. By contrast, for every £1 invested in banking, an estimated £7 in social value is lost.

Sean McNamara (Image: CILIPS)

In recent years the Scottish Government has offered welcome support for the sector through improvement funding and national strategies, and this is truly to be celebrated in this country. At the same time, core funding and staffing have been under extreme pressure, with estimated cuts of 30% since 2010 despite increasing visitor numbers as things break down at a local level due to a funding crisis in local government or occasionally a lack of understanding of what libraries can do. In the next few years, we want to see a stronger partnership between national and local government on a national blueprint for libraries.

There is a chance for a bold new outlook. Our colleagues at the Scottish Library and Information Council (SLIC) recently set out their vision for Securing the Future of Scotland’s Libraries and we fully back that.  Alongside this there are also several key developments for libraries that we can build on in the coming years.

Firstly, we have the ‘Beyond Adequate’ recommendations created at the request of the Cabinet Secretary for Constitution, External Affairs and Culture following many local and national library campaigns. Via a working group featuring CILIPS and led by SLIC, a set of recommendations have been submitted to help redefine what is meant by an adequate library service - this is what is required by law in Scotland.

These recommendations include a universal offer, standards, multi-year funding and more, and if the next Government puts them in place they could significantly change the landscape of our services and their leaders.

We also have a Scottish Government commitment in place to work towards a new school libraries strategy; this again would be huge for a sector that has been unfairly battered by cuts and de-professionalisation. This commitment needs to be now realised, and we also would like to see our school librarians to be offered greater protection and funding so any strategy can be delivered.

We also look forward to a major European report on public libraries from the OMC Group. This is being written in response to the fact that the comprehensive impact of libraries across Europe was misunderstood, and that there is a need at policy and operational level to better recognise and document the multiple cultural, societal and democratic roles libraries can play in Europe and determine how we can support them better.

These opportunities give us a platform to let the next government know how important libraries can be for their years in Government. We need strategic and financial help for the sector. A sector which costs far less than it can save.

Scotland needs to place information professionals and their skills and values central to Scotland’s response to growing challenges such as tackling misinformation and ethical usage of AI. We need to ensure the vital contributions of librarians across academic, health, government and other sectors are recognised and rewarded as essential to a functioning and democratic society. We need more trusted public spaces and we need to place libraries at the heart of positive reform for the public sector, and make data-led decisions about them, as the figures back up how important and well-used they are.

In 2026, the very act of being hopeful and optimistic feels like an active choice. The very essence of a library is where that hope can be found. A place that levels the playing field, that provides access for all and gives you information that you can trust without the need for payment. Scotland’s libraries and their librarians and other staff are a key part of the answer to so many questions, and we hope our next government will continue to back them.

Sean McNamara is Director of the Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals in Scotland (CILIPS). CILIPS are currently running a campaign called ‘Librarians Are the Answer’ and full details are on their website www.cilips.org.uk.

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