In a unique tie-up, the Parliament’s Information Centre has designated one public library in each constituency – from Lerwick to Dumfries, Stornoway to St Andrews - to act as a focal point for public information about the Parliament.

The Parliament’s Presiding Officer, Sir David Steel, said this was another excellent example of the Parliament being brought directly to the people of Scotland, young and old.

He said:

"I understand that, without exception, the proposal to create this link between the Parliament’s Information Centre and the Partner Library has been taken up enthusiastically by both heads of library services throughout Scotland and the staff of the 73 selected libraries.

"These libraries will be visible evidence within local communities the length and breadth of the country that the Parliament is fully committed to accessibility, accountability and public participation.

"The venues have been chosen in consultation with the Chief Librarian of each local authority on the basis of accessibility, taking into account geographical location, opening hours, the availability of Internet access, staffing complement, the range of supporting book stock and the availability of additional facilities such as meeting rooms."

The Scottish Parliament Information Centre will maintain close contacts with staff in the Partner Libraries ensuring that they are kept up-to-date with the latest developments in the Parliament and have access to its documentation.

Information will be available not only through printed publications, but also, where available in the Partner Libraries, electronically through a direct link to the Scottish Parliament website on www.scottish.parliament.uk

BACKGROUND NOTE

The partner libraries, alphabetically, in constituency order, are:

Aberdeen Central – Aberdeen Central library; Aberdeen North – Bridge of Don library; Aberdeen South – Kincorth library; Airdrie and Shotts – Airdrie library; Angus – Arbroath library; Argyll and Bute – Dunoon library; Ayr – Carnegie library; Banff and Buchan – Peterhead library; Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross – Thurso library; Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley – Cumnock library; Central Fife – Glenwood library, Glenrothes; Clydebank and Milngavie – Clydebank library; Clydesdale – Lanark library; Coatbridge and Chryston – Coatbridge library; Cumbernauld and Kilsyth – Cumbernauld Central library; Cunninghame North – Saltcoats library; Cunninghame South – Irvine library; Dumbarton – Dumbarton library; Dumfries – Ewart library, Dumfries; Dundee East – Broughty Ferry library; Dundee West – Dundee Central library; Dunfermline East – Dalgety Bay library; Dunfermline West – Dunfermline Central library; East Kilbride – East Kilbride Central library; East Lothian – Haddington library; Eastwood – Giffnock library; Edinburgh Central – Central library; Edinburgh East and Musselburgh – Portobello library; Edinburgh North and Leith – Leith library; Edinburgh Pentlands – Wester Hailes library; Edinburgh South – Morningside library; Edinburgh West – Blackhall library; Falkirk East – Grangemouth library; Falkirk West – Falkirk library; Galloway and Upper Nithsdale – Stranraer library; Glasgow Anniesland – Knightswood library; Glasgow Baillieston – Baillieston library; Glasgow Cathcart – Langside library; Glasgow Govan – Ibrox library; Glasgow Kelvin – Hillhead library; Glasgow Maryhill – Maryhill library; Glasgow Pollok – Cardonald library; Glasgow Rutherglen – Rutherglen library; Glasgow Shettleston – Shettleston library; Glasgow Springburn – Dennistoun library; Gordon – Inverurie library; Greenock and Inverclyde – Greenock Central library; Hamilton North and Bellshill – Hamilton Central library; Hamilton South – Blantyre library; Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber – Fort William library; Kilmarnock and Loudoun – The Dick Institute, Kilmarnock; Kirkcaldy – Kirkcaldy Central library; Linlithgow – Bathgate library; Livingston – Carmondean library; Midlothian – Dalkeith library; Moray – Elgin library; Motherwell and Wishaw – Motherwell library; North East Fife – St Andrews library; North Tayside – Forfar library; Ochil – Alloa library; Orkney – Orkney library; Paisley North – Renfrew library; Paisley South – Paisley Central library; Perth – AK Bell library, Perth; Ross, Skye and Inverness West – Inverness library; Roxburgh and Berwickshire – Kelso library; Shetland – Shetland library; Stirling – Central library, Stirling; Strathkelvin and Bearsden – William Patrick library, Kirkintilloch; Tweeddale, Ettrick and Lauderdale – Peebles library; West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine – Stonehaven library; West Renfrewshire – Erskine library; Western Isles – Stornoway library.

For further information at a local level, please contact your local library or your constituency or regional MSPs.