Scottish Labour Response 2026

CILIP Scotland wrote to all main political parties in Scotland standing in the the 2026 Scottish Election on the 7th of May. On behalf of our members, we posed the same five questions about how they would support libraries and the professionals who run these vital services. We will publish any responses received.

Scottish Labour Said…

What would your party do to improve the funding support given to school and public libraries in Scotland via local authorities?

In Scotland local authorities have a statutory duty to secure the provision of adequate library services in their area. However, due to the pressures on local authority funding over many years by the SNP, local authorities have been forced to cut back on local services, including libraries. (Scottish Labour will give people a say over the closure of services, extending the requirement to have a statutory consultation whenever councils plan to shut local libraries, sports and leisure facilities). Scottish Labour recognises that the current model of local government funding is not sustainable. Rather than tinkering around the edges and offering short- term gimmicks, Scotland’s local government funding system needs to be put on a genuinely stable footing for the long-term with every council receiving fair funding. This is the only way that they can guarantee future services and support the workers they employ. As part of our plans to push power out of Holyrood, Scottish Labour is committed to delivering a fair multi-year funding settlement which takes account of the responsibilities of councils and the range of local levies available to local authorities.

How would you ensure our public library network is best placed to support key outcomes such as improving literacy and health/wellbeing and reducing inequality, child poverty and social isolation? Would you support a new National Strategy for public libraries?

While the SNP is keen on reviews and strategies, the fundamental issue when it comes to libraries is one of resources. Properly funding libraries is key to ensuring the essential services that they provide for many. Libraries are embedded in their local communities and are often the last public building in many of these communities. Providing access to books remains the core offer of libraries but they have expanded into digital provision and printing, early years and educational support, refugee services and employment support and more. There are also lots of examples of councils providing services through libraries, and community groups using and supporting both the space and the service a library provides to communities.

Libraries bridge the digital divide, providing access to broadband and digital equipment and can help those trying to find a job. They provide havens for those who are socially isolated. The Libraries Summer Reading challenge helps children engage with reading. We will also create “digital playgrounds” across the country, with digital equipment freely available in public spaces such as schools, libraries and museums where young people can safely engage with technology and innovation. Libraries are also places where there is no stigma attached to using them which means those on low incomes can access services without feeling that they are being judged. The hard work of librarians to adapt to changing community needs, while remaining as a centre for information and a place where so many fall in love with reading, is so important and should be supported.

How would you provide greater protection for our under-pressure school library sector to ensure they can improve reading for enjoyment levels as well as literacy, critical thinking and attainment? Would you support a refreshed national strategy for school libraries?

Scottish Labour is committed to building a love of books and reading amongst young people. School libraries are an important part of the educational environment, providing a safe place for young people to read, learn and explore a world of knowledge at their own pace. They can provide an important counterbalance to the ever-growing pressure towards shorter attention spans of the digital age and help to encourage young people to enjoy reading for its own sake. The work of school librarians in creatively engaging young people in reading and learning is a valuable asset in tackling the attainment gap in literacy and ensuring standards are met. Scottish Labour believes that local government should have a fair funding settlement for its needs, including the needs of our schools, and that school libraries should be considered by this settlement as the important part of the educational environment that they clearly are.

How would you ensure information professionals in other sectors such as health, government and the third sector are valued and supported?

Scottish Labour supports a trade union learning fund which allows trade unions in health, government and the third sector to develop and deliver work related learning and skills through accredited learning. Information professionals are incredibly important to all sectors they work in and are a vital part of ensuring transparency and accountability that is essential, particularly in the public sector. We would support them by supporting the industries they work in and championing their role within them.

How do you plan to tackle the rising challenge of misinformation? Do librarians have a role to play in this?

In recent years, threats to our safety and security have multiplied and diversified. Alongside greater conventional threats, we are faced with the growing emergence of cyber-attacks and misinformation campaigns which seek to subvert our democracy. We support legislation to make tech companies accountable for the spread of misinformation. We will also ensure that children are educated at school about misinformation and supported to develop the skills they need to think critically about what the see and read online because young children are vulnerable to believing what they find online. Scottish Labour believes that librarians do have a role to play in countering misinformation, especially as they are trusted and already offer digital support to the public and help them access what they need online. Librarians upskilled in how to spot disinformation online play an invaluable role in helping our young and vulnerable people spot disinformation online. This is why we will establish a digital mentors’ network, with trained volunteers stationed in trusted community spaces such as Citizens Advice Centres, supermarkets, and libraries around the country, offering targeted assistance toward people least likely to seek help.