Scotland’s Green Libraries Grant Fund 2025-26
Category: #CILIPSGoGreen, Blog, News
After our most closely contested year to date, with an exceptional volume of high-quality applications submitted, CILIPS and Better World Books are delighted to announce that Scotland’s Green Libraries Grant Fund recipients for 2025-26 are:
Engaging Migrant and Refugee Communities with NLS ‘Rain’ Collections, National Library of Scotland
project leads: Dr Sarah Thomson and Dr Emily Munro
Gàrradh Seulachd, Leabharlainn nan Eilean siar The Story Garden, Western Isles Libraries
project lead: Renee Mason
One Small Thing, South Ayrshire Libraries
project lead: Eileen Vernon
Martin Mullin, Senior Director, Global Sales, at Better World Books, who contributed to our judging panel, told us:
Better World Books is delighted to be collaborating with CILIPS and sponsoring Scotland’s Green Libraries Grant Fund for 2025. The quality of applications for these awards was truly exceptional. Each of the projects demonstrates exemplary commitment to libraries and communities in Scotland. We look forward to the positive sustainability and literacy impact these innovative projects will have this year and beyond.
Learn more about our 2025-26 projects:
Engaging Migrant and Refugee Communities with NLS ‘Rain’ Collections, National Library of Scotland
Project leads Dr Sarah Thomson and Dr Emily Munro told us:
We’re both delighted that CILIPS has chosen to support this project, which aims to bring new perspectives to the NLS’s collections. We hope that engaging with migrant and refugee communities will add an exciting new dimension to our upcoming exhibition, and we can’t wait to get started working with our participants!
The Story Garden, Western Isles Libraries
Project lead Renee Mason told us:
Leabharlainn nan Eilean Siar / Western Isles Libraries are thrilled to receive this generous funding from the CILIPS Green Libraries Fund. This support will significantly enhance the garden at Sgoil Lionacleit and create a more welcoming and sustainable space for our school and community. Our Support for Learning team are working with a small group of students who have already taken the garden on as a project, and they will greatly benefit from this funding boost. We are excited to see their efforts flourish and are grateful to CILIPS for their invaluable support.
One Small Thing, South Ayrshire Libraries
Project lead Eileen Vernon and colleague Amanda Berrisford told us:
We are thrilled to accept this funding on behalf of South Ayrshire Libraries, and we are looking forward to working with our local communities to develop a new Sustainability Hub and deliver the ‘One Small Thing’ programme in libraries across South Ayrshire. Our workshops, talks and eco-book collection will focus on building skills, confidence and community connections while promoting practical ways to live more sustainably, one small step at a time.
South Ayrshire Council’s Depute Leader and Portfolio Holder for Tourism, Culture and Rural Affairs, Councillor Alec Clark, added:
I’m delighted that our Libraries service has been awarded the Green Libraries Grant by CILIP Scotland. The topic of sustainability is at the forefront of everything we do in order to protect our environment. The ‘One Small Thing’ project is therefore an innovative way to support us all in learning more about sustainable behaviours, whilst using our library resources to engage in eco-literacy to enhance community knowledge.
Our libraries are an essential part of our communities and are always a hub of activity. The events and workshops included within the programme offer a fantastic range of practical skills to members of the public and our pupils across South Ayrshire, helping us all to live more sustainably.
For South Ayrshire Council’s Portfolio Holder for Buildings, Housing and Environment, Councillor Martin Kilbride:
As a Council, sustainable working practices are a key priority for us and we all have a part to play when it comes to protecting our environment. The Green Libraries Grant will enable us to utilise our Libraries, which are key community hubs, in order to impart the necessary knowledge and skills around sustainability to our local residents. By using the simple, yet effective practices taught via the ‘One Small Thing’ project, we’re another step closer to meeting our climate targets.