£5,800 funding boost for new portable library kits in Orkney

Orkney Library and Archive has been awarded £5,800 from the Public Library Improvement Fund (PLIF), administered by the Scottish Library and Information Council (SLIC) on behalf of the Scottish Government. It's one of 13 library services across Scotland sharing this year's £230,000 round of PLIF funding, which supports 14 projects in total.

The award will fund ‘Booky McNooks’ - a project to create three portable library kits bringing books and reading resources to communities across Orkney.

Each kit will be stocked with a curated collection covering neurodiversity, dyslexia-friendly titles, LGBTQIA+ themes, climate, and health and wellbeing - alongside general fiction and short stories. People across Orkney will be able to loan the kits and take them to community venues, with each collection tailored to suit where it's needed. The kits will also carry library leaflets and information on what people can access for free through Orkney Library and Archive. It is hoped the kits will be up and running by Spring of 2027.

Vikki Kerr, Team Manager for Libraries and Archives, said: "This funding lets us take books and reading resources to people, rather than expecting them to come to us.

“The kits are designed to break down the barriers people can face in accessing reading materials, and we're looking forward to working with communities across Orkney to decide what goes in them.”

Alison Nolan, Chief Executive of SLIC, said: “Libraries are trusted, inclusive spaces where people can learn, connect, share skills and build stronger communities, and they are continually evolving to meet the changing needs of the people they serve. These 14 projects are a fantastic example of that innovation in action, bringing the ambitions of Fast Forward to life in communities across Scotland.

“From inspiring children and families to discover the joy of reading, to helping people navigate AI and misinformation, welcoming New Scots and making library resources more accessible, the projects showcase the breadth of what libraries can achieve when they work creatively with their communities and partners. We’re looking forward to seeing the positive impact they make locally.”