School libraries plea heard by MSPs

Some of Scotland’s most high-profile authors have put their names to a petition to the Scottish Government calling for protection of libraries in schools.

Novelists Val McDermid, James Robertson, Christopher Brookmyre and Alan Bissett all signed the ‘save Scotland’s school libraries’ petition, which was heard by the Scottish Parliament’s Petitions Committee this morning.

MSPs heard pupils are now subject to a "postcode lottery" in regards to the level of school library service they receive, widening inequalities between schools.

Speaking after committee, convener Michael McMahon said: “We heard our libraries are in a vulnerable state, and that present there is no minimum standard for school libraries in our cities and villages.

“A crucial question for the Committee is, should the Scottish Government produce a national strategy that protects school libraries and their professional staff? We also want to hear from the EIS and UNISON on numbers of qualified, professional librarians and the impact school libraries have on teaching staff and educational attainment.”