Leabharlannan nan Eilean Siar air Maoineachadh gus Taic a thoirt don Ghàidhlig agus Litearrachd
Tha e na thoileachas do Leabharlainn nan Eilean Siar / Leabharlannan nan Eilean Siar ainmeachadh gu bheil dà mhaoin bho Riaghaltas na h-Alba air a bhuileachadh orra, Maoin Leasachaidh Leabharlannan Sgoile (SLIF) agus Maoin Leasachaidh Leabharlann Poblach (PLIF).
Western Isles Libraries Awarded Funding to Support Gaelic and Literacy
Leabharlainn nan Eilean Siar/ Western Isles Libraries is delighted to announce the award of funding from two Scottish Government funds, the School Library Improvement Fund (SLIF) and Public Library Improvement Fund (PLIF).
The £16,578 grant from the Scottish Library Improvement Fund (SLIF) will strengthen connections between schools, libraries, and communities through the Scottish Book Trust’s Reading Schools programme. The funding will enable the library service to provide resources, training, and support to staff, pupils, and families with aim of encouraging a lifelong love of reading and developing literacy skills.
Western Isles Libraries Manager Renee Mason said: “We are excited to have received this funding from the Scottish Library and Information Council and look forward to working with our partners to make this project happen. This funding will also support us to host a Literacy Symposium in Stornoway in early 2025, bringing together stakeholders from across the community to tackle the challenge of falling literacy rates and find ways to work together to create a community of readers.”
Western Isles Libraries is one of thirteen library services across Scotland to have been awarded funding from the Public Library Improvement Fund (PLIF). The successful project, ‘Fèis Ghàidhlig Leabharlainn’ (Libraries Gaelic Festival), will take place over summer 2025 and feature a series of literary arts workshops and events celebrating Gaelic language and culture, including the unique Gaelic collections held in local libraries. The project highlights how libraries are uniquely positioned to connect communities through language, storytelling, and creativity.
The fund will support the employment of two students one for Lewis/Harris and one covering Uist as part of Comhairle’s Gaelic student placement scheme, as well as a Gaelic Arts Officer in partnership with An Lanntair and CnES Employability, who will also oversee young Gaelic speakers completing Foundational Apprenticeships.
Western Isles Libraries Manager Renee Mason said: “Public libraries play a vital role in promoting Gaelic language and culture: through curating extensive collections of Gaelic books, archives, and digital resources, through opportunities to speak and engage with the language and through meaningful employment and career paths. This project reflects the critical role of libraries as hubs for cultural enrichment, learning, and social connection.”
Alison Nolan, Chief Executive of Scottish Library Improvement Fund, said: “Public libraries offer truly diverse value to their communities. They provide access to vital services and resources, a wealth of social activities and are hubs for expression and creativity. Investment is so important for the continued provision of these services, and the Public Library Improvement Fund is one of the ways in which we bolster our public libraries.”
Angus Robertson MSP, Cabinet Secretary for Constitution, External Affairs and Culture added: “Libraries are at the heart of our communities, offering inclusive and accessible spaces where people of all ages and backgrounds can come together to learn, create, and connect."
Neartaichidh an tabhartas £16,578 bho Mhaoin Leasachaidh Leabharlann na h-Alba (SLIF) ceanglaichean eadar sgoiltean, leabharlannan, agus coimhearsnachdan tro Sgoiltean Leughaidh Urras Leabhraichean na h-Alba.prògram. Bheir am maoineachadh cothrom don t-seirbheis leabharlainn goireasan, trèanadh, agus taic a sholarachadh do luchd-obrach, sgoilearan, agus teaghlaichean leis an amas a bhith a’ brosnachadh gaol fad-beatha air leughadh agus a’ leasachadh sgilean litearrachd.
Thuirt Manaidsear Leabharlainn nan Eilean Siar, Renee Mason: “Tha sinn air bhioran gu bheil sinn air am maoineachadh seo fhaighinn bho Chomhairle Leabharlann is Fiosrachaidh na h-Alba agus tha sinn a’ coimhead air adhart ri bhith ag obair còmhla ri ar com-pàirtichean gus am pròiseact seo a thoirt gu buil. Bheir am maoineachadh seo taic dhuinn cuideachd gus Symposium Litearrachd a chumail ann an Steòrnabhagh tràth ann an 2025, a’ toirt luchd-ùidh bho air feadh na coimhearsnachd còmhla gus dèiligeadh ris an dùbhlan a thaobh ìrean litearrachd a’ tuiteam agus dòighean a lorg air obrachadh còmhla gus coimhearsnachd de luchd-leughaidh a chruthachadh.”
Tha Leabharlannan nan Eilean Siar am measg trì-deug seirbheisean leabharlainn air feadh na h-Alba a fhuair maoineachadh bho Mhaoin Leasachaidh Leabharlann Poblach (PLIF). Bidh am pròiseact soirbheachail, ‘Fèis Ghàidhlig Leabharlainn’, a’ gabhail àite as t-samhradh 2025 agus a’ nochdadh sreath de bhùthan-obrach ealain litreachais agus tachartasan a’ comharrachadh cànan is cultar na Gàidhlig, a’ gabhail a-steach na cruinneachaidhean Gàidhlig gun samhail a tha air an cumail ann an leabharlannan ionadail. Tha am pròiseact a’ soilleireachadh mar a tha leabharlannan ann an suidheachadh gun samhail airson coimhearsnachdan a cheangal tro chànan, aithris sgeulachdan, agus cruthachalachd.
Bheir a’ mhaoin taic do dhithis oileanach fhastadh aon airson Leòdhas/Na Hearadh agus aon eile a’ còmhdachadh Uibhist mar phàirt de sgeama greis gnìomhachais oileanach na Comhairle, a bharrachd air Oifigear Ealain Gàidhlig ann an com-pàirteachas leis An Lanntair agus CnES Employability, a bhios cuideachd os cionn luchd-labhairt òga na Gàidhlig. crìoch a chur air Preantasachdan Bunaiteach.
Thuirt Manaidsear Leabharlainn nan Eilean Siar, Renee Mason: “Tha àite deatamach aig leabharlannan poblach ann a bhith ag adhartachadh cànan is cultar na Gàidhlig: tro bhith a’ glèidheadh chruinneachaidhean farsaing de leabhraichean Gàidhlig, tasglannan agus goireasan didseatach, tro chothroman air a’ chànan a bhruidhinn agus a dhol an sàs ann agus tro shlighean cosnaidh is dreuchd brìoghmhor. Tha am pròiseact seo a’ nochdadh àite deatamach leabharlannan mar ionadan airson beairteas cultarach, ionnsachadh agus ceangal sòisealta.”
Thuirt Alison Nolan, Ceannard Maoin Leasachaidh Leabharlann na h-Alba: “Tha leabharlannan poblach a’ tabhann luach fìor eadar-mheasgte dha na coimhearsnachdan aca. Bidh iad a’ toirt cothrom air seirbheisean agus goireasan deatamach, beairteas de ghnìomhachd sòisealta agus tha iad nam meadhan airson faireachdainn agus cruthachalachd. Tha tasgadh cho cudromach airson solar leantainneach de na seirbheisean sin, agus tha Maoin Leasachaidh Leabharlann Poblach mar aon de na dòighean anns am bi sinn a’ neartachadh ar leabharlannan poblach.”
Thuirt Aonghas Robasdan BPA, Rùnaire a’ Chaibineit airson Bun-reachd, Cùisean Taobh a-muigh agus Cultar: “Tha leabharlannan aig cridhe ar coimhearsnachdan, a’ tabhann àiteachan in-ghabhalach agus ruigsinneach far am faod daoine de gach aois is cùl-raon tighinn còmhla gus ionnsachadh, cruthachadh agus ceangal a dhèanamh."
