North Ayrshire Libraries have been nominated for a major sector award in recognition of their outstanding contribution to communities across the region.

The Scottish Library Information Council (SLIC) awards highighted their pioneering work in supporting those recovering from alcohol and drug use.

It means the North Ayrshire service is now on a shortlist for the award alongside Orkney, West Dunbartonshire and East Lothian. 

The SLIC said of the library's addiction service: "This was a bold project, co-designed with addiction specialists, to repurpose library spaces, upskill and train library staff and promote library services to new customers.

"It provides a safe, supported, non-clinical environment at the heart of the community for service users and their families who now benefit from the wide range of library services.

"North Ayrshire have taken on a complex challenge but delivered a thoughtful and person-centred service."

The SLIC awards recognise the outstanding levels of commitment, creativity and value libraries offer people and the communities they serve.

SLIC Chair, Professor Ian Ruthven, who led the awards judging panel, said the entries for the 2023 competition delivered an “incredible range of innovation, thoughtful interventions and inspiring local leadership”.

He added: “Libraries are unique cultural, educational, and social spaces.

"As well as providing core library services, they 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 well-being.

“We congratulate all those who were nominated for this year’s awards.  The entries share common values of community-mindedness, empathetic decision-making, and passion for what a library service can offer. 

“They also offered repeatable models for delivering excellence and together they demonstrate the incredible commitment and creativity of Scotland’s library services.”

The winners of the 2023 SLIC Awards will be announced at the SLIC Showcase and AGM on November 3.