South Ayrshire Council Awarded Green Libraries Grant by CILIPS Scotland

South Ayrshire Council's Libraries, Art and Culture service has been awarded the Green Libraries Grant by CILIPS Scotland (Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals), which supports innovative and community-focused green initiatives within libraries across Scotland.

The grant of £2,000 will be used to develop a new sustainable living and literacy programme and hub called 'One Small Thing'. This pilot project aims to empower South Ayrshire residents to practice small, yet impactful steps in order to live more sustainably. A range of workshops and events will be co-ordinated and delivered via a new Sustainable Living and Literacy Hub at Carnegie Library in Ayr, supported by all South Ayrshire Library branches.

The Hub will offer various workshops, classes and events, including sewing and mending classes; food waste and composting workshops; digital debris awareness; and a climate conversation café. The library's eco-literacy collection will also be available, covering a variety of topics such as DIY repair and mending; sustainable transport; upcycling and sustainable crafts; and climate fiction and non-fiction.

South Ayrshire Council's Depute Leader and Portfolio Holder for Tourism, Culture and Rural Affairs, Councillor Alec Clark, said: "I'm delighted that our Libraries service has been awarded the Green Libraries Grant by CILIPS Scotland. The topic of sustainability is at the forefront of everything we do in order to protect our environment. The 'One Small Thing' project is therefore an innovative way to support us all in learning more about sustainable behaviours, whilst using our library resources to engage in eco-literacy to enhance community knowledge.

"Our libraries are an essential part of our communities and are always a hub of activity. The events and workshops included within the programme offer a fantastic range of practical skills to members of the public and our pupils across South Ayrshire, helping us all to live more sustainably."

South Ayrshire Council's Portfolio Holder for Buildings, Housing and Environment, Councillor Martin Kilbride, said: "As a Council, sustainable working practices are a key priority for us and we all have a part to play when it comes to protecting our environment. The Green Libraries Grant will enable us to utilise our Libraries, which are key community hubs, in order to impart the necessary knowledge and skills around sustainability to our local residents. By using the simple, yet effective practices taught via the 'One Small Thing' project, we're another step closer to meeting our climate targets."

More information on the project will be issued in due course.