At first glance, libraries might seem like relics of a bygone age with their stuffy buildings full of dusty books. For many that is far from the truth. In reality, Scotland’s public libraries are modern community hubs.
“The very existence of libraries affords the best evidence that we may yet have hope for the future of man”, said T.S Eliot, and I would have to agree. They are a quiet, but critical engine for opportunity, inclusion, and hope. All of which are essential building blocks of an optimistic economy.
The recent Scottish Book Trust led report shows that nearly 100 public libraries have vanished across Scotland since 2008. If we’re serious about building a fairer, more resilient economy, we can’t afford to keep cutting one of its most valuable support systems.
Let me be clear: this isn’t mere nostalgia. This is about recognising the hard-nosed, economic case for keeping libraries publicly funded.
In business, we constantly talk about levelling up skills, investing in human capital, and breaking down barriers to economic participation. Libraries do all of that.
Consider that nearly 70 per cent of library users surveyed said libraries helped them access learning and develop new skills. That’s personal development and growing oneself, but it is also employability.
That’s people upskilling themselves for work, gaining confidence, and taking active steps to improve their economic futures. In a time when Scotland faces real challenges with productivity and labour market participation, that option is essential for those driven enough to seek it out.
What’s more, libraries support digital inclusion, which is a massive and often overlooked driver of economic inequality. The report shows 15per cent of people in Scotland are digitally excluded in some form. That’s over 800,000 people potentially locked out of job applications, online banking, government services, and even basic news. Libraries provide a safety net. Almost all offer free Wi-Fi and computer access. Many offer classes in digital skills. The market needs libraries to plug that gap.
Then there’s the role libraries play in supporting small businesses and start-ups. From free access to market research databases to quiet workspaces and networking events, they serve as drivers of enterprise.
There are countless examples of children who struggled to sit still in traditional classrooms, yet found refuge in libraries, in spaces where they could explore their interests at their own pace. Rather than enforcing discipline, libraries offer a nurturing ground for curiosity, fostering a generation that is innovative, and adaptable. These qualities are crucial for driving economic growth and prosperity in a rapidly changing world.
Inclusion is another powerful economic argument. Libraries don’t just serve the stereotypical bookworm. They reach disabled people, LGBTQ+ communities, new Scots, young parents, pensioners, and more.
They do what few other institutions can: provide a free, warm, welcoming space for everyone. That means less pressure on other overstretched services. It means communities that are better connected, informed, resilient, and independent.
Even in raw economic terms, libraries make sense. In 2014, the Arts Council of England report found that for every £1 invested in libraries, up to £4–£5 of value is generated in social and economic return. Despite this knowledge, libraries have been subjected to years of budget cuts, often under the radar.
This is what Sean McNamara of the Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals in Scotland (CILIPS) calls a “false economy”. You can’t build a thriving economy while hacking away at the infrastructure that makes participation possible. You don’t get a high-growth Scotland if 25 per cent of your adults face literacy challenges and the free public spaces that could help are shut or starved of funding.
Councils are under huge pressure, but national government needs to show leadership, too. That means proper legal definitions for what classifies as “adequate” library services. It means ring-fenced funding that can’t be quietly diverted elsewhere. It means treating libraries not as a leaky cost from post-war ideals, but as part of the rich soil that nurtures our collective future.
This is not charity. It’s not sentimentality. It’s strategy. Public libraries aren’t just good for the soul. They’re good for business.
Building Cleaner Greener Future
An East Lothian company looks set to revolutionise construction projects the world over following the development of a sustainable building brick.
Innovative cleantech building materials company Kenoteq has created what they call K-BRIQ – a brick made almost entirely from recycled construction waste.
It is hoped the new technology can solve the global construction waste crisis after its K-BRIQ received certification from the British Board of Agrément (BBA), the UK’s leading construction certification body.
K-BRIQ will allow for entire facades to be constructed from recycled building materials that would otherwise end up in landfill, the brick is the world’s first to be made from near 100% recycled construction waste and achieve the rigorous certification.
While it will take time to scale up to a global level, it is hoped K-BRIQ can make an impact on the UK market immediately.
It’s great to see a Scottish company leading the way with innovation of this ilk – something which could truly change the world.
It might not be as ‘sexy’ as the telephone or television advancements of the late 19th and early 20th centuries, but K-BRIQ could be just as impactful as those famous Scottish inventions.
I doff my hat to Kenoteq for their ingenuity to create this product – which produces 95% less carbon emissions than traditional clay bricks – and bring it to market at a time it is so desperately needed.
I’m confident it won’t be long before we see these bricks paving the way to a brighter, greener future across the country.
It Made Me Weep: Galloway Park Axed
I was left shaking my head at the news that Scotland – for the time being at least – won’t have a third national park.
Plans to add Galloway to a list which already includes the stunning Cairngorms and Loch Lomond & The Trossachs were abandoned by the Scottish Government last week.
The Dumfries and Galloway region should feel hard done by. This is a huge oversight from politicians – who could’ve made a positive move for the environment and the economy.
Instead, the area is at risk of being further left behind as years of campaigning goes to waste, with many locals desperate to see progress.
Maybe the conversation will be revisited – I just hope it’s not too late for communities.
Can Club Be Great Again?
I had held off discussing this until the deal was confirmed, so I am ready to start speculating about the future of Rangers after their investment from the San Francisco 49ers.
No doubt the 51 per cent majority takeover is positive news for a club that hasn’t had its financial troubles to seek.
The new ownership is led by 49ers Enterprises – a consortium with fingers in many pies – not least the great American institution that is the NFL.
While I don’t think we’re going to see James Tavernier in a helmet any time soon, it will be interesting what outside perspective those with experience in the booming American sports market can bring to our game.
Can they ‘Make Rangers Great Again’ and trump old rivals Celtic? Time will tell.
