Libraries are facing funding cuts and closures; but how are they also coping with the digital transformation of the 21st century?
Libraries have entertained Scotland for centuries, providing a place to learn, explore, and connect within local communities.
Today, these institutions face significant financial challenges, yet they are rising to battle digital exclusion.
A new report by Scottish Book Trust revealed that one in three librarians believe their whole service is at risk of reduction or loss. 82% of public libraries surveyed reported a restriction in their resources and funding.
In the survey, one librarian answered that rural communities especially were ‘in danger’ because of the closures.
They said: “It will vary across the authority but we’re in danger, if we haven’t already reached the point, of withdrawing the resources from the very people who rely on them.
“Public transport is poor so as libraries face closures, how are people supposed to get to the main libraries where the resources may have to be focused – even more of an issue for our more rural communities.”
One in five of Scotland’s public libraries have closed in the past 15 years. This is a change from 627 libraries to less than 500.
Jérémie Fernandes, SNP councillor for Elgin City North, is qualified in Libraries and Information Studies from Robert Gordon University. He has worked across public and school libraries, and now works part-time at Moray College UHI’s library.
He said: “Last year, the SNP council in Aberdeen cut libraries in some of the most deprived areas of the city.
“South Lanarkshire which is, I believe, a Labour Council is also cutting their libraries at the moment.
“I don’t think councillors realise how important libraries are for their communities. It’s really important to try and preserve them as much as we can.”
More visits than ‘the SPFL and cinema combined’
Addressing concerns about funding cuts, Jérémie said: “It’s really important to address common misconceptions about libraries.
“You know, when you hear councils making decisions about libraries, many say, well, I don’t use the library, so why should I fund the library?
“But libraries in Scotland have 45 million visits a year, which is more than the SPFL and cinema combined.
“They serve a lot of purposes like alleviating solitude, finding information, genealogy work and looking for resources on anything. It’s non-judgmental, and it’s free at the point of use.”
Adapting to digital platforms
As the world has changed drastically compared to how it was a hundred years ago, libraries are working to adapt to digital platforms.
Jérémie added: “Libraries have changed the way they operate. They’ve obviously invested heavily in new books on digital platforms.
“Through investment in ebooks, you can still access books within your library for free and they’ve also diversified their offer.”
Scottish Government, in their Connecting Scotland programme, have advocated for digital inclusion as a fundamental part of accessible infrastructure.
A ‘significant’ number of digital exclusion
A Scottish Government spokesperson said: “In Scotland there is a signification portion of households and individuals that do not have the essential skills or infrastructure required to engage in a digital society.
“Inability to engage means that people are unable to access public services online, are not offered the same opportunities to achieve the same level of education and contribute to the economy to the same extent as those with access and may be deprived of the opportunities to contribute to democracy.”
Statistics published by the Scottish Book Trust show that many people turn to libraries due to the digital exclusion they face.
Generations are being ‘left behind’
One librarian surveyed answered: “Our community is very impoverished and a lot of people do not have access to internet, computers or other resources they need for school, work etc.
“Our computers and resources are used almost constantly, every day by people within our community. More often than not, we do not have enough of these resources to facilitate the demand. Everything is digital nowadays and a lot of generations are being left behind because they do not know how to work
these pieces of technology.”
Scottish Book Trust reported that when asking public librarians whether or not their local community faces digital poverty, 66% said yes.
College libraries provide ‘educational experience’
With many educational institutions offering their own libraries, students can access a database of knowledge to help them with their studies.
Michelle Montgomery, a librarian at Glasgow Clyde College, has worked in her role for two years. She has previously worked in Glasgow’s Mitchell Library for five years, as well as other community libraries.
“A lot of students don’t access physical books at all – they will read either e-books or find resources themselves online.
“I think Covid made the final push that everything had to go online.”
Michelle highlighted that the library was a ‘relaxing’ place for ‘students to come together’.
She added: “It’s a nice place that students can come to work in that isn’t their classrooms. It’s where they can come and work in a group, they can also get printing resources and do photocopying. Most of all, the difference is that they have staff here that can help them.
“If they’re looking for something in particular we can help them look for that. We can point them in directions they wouldn’t have thought of themselves.”
As the future of libraries as we know it remains uncertain, those who are avid users of the service are desperate to keep the service running.
