Born in 1946 and brought up in Cupar, Fife, I was educated at the local school - In a speech I made to the former First Minister Alex Salmond as he left the Scottish Parliament for the last time in office, I noted that he was a man of privilege. I made the point that this was not due to money or connections, but was rather due to his experiences in his home town of Linlithgow, his caring parents, and the free education that started him off on his political career.
Many schools across Scotland provide an excellent standard of education and this is something that as a country we should be proud of. But in some areas we fall short and need to improve – for the sake of future generations.
The ‘Read On Get On’ campaign has revealed that in Scotland, one in five children from poor families leaves primary school unable to read well. This inability can cut children’s chances in life short, and will in turn make Scotland less of a fair society.
Book Week Scotland is a week-long celebration of all things in book form that takes place every November with old and young alike taking part. Events are held in libraries, schools, community venues and workplaces to enjoy books and the art of reading. Also taking part will be some of the finest Scottish authors, poets, playwrights, storytellers and illustrators.
And what better way to experience the joy of a good book than to make use of the local library service. The public library is a resource that cannot be underestimated – providing free access to all ages and abilities, and expanding the mind on a wide range of subjects.
In November 2013, I was delighted when Moray Council decided against closing down a few local libraries - one of which was in Cullen. Libraries provide a vital service to rural communities, but in both rural and urban settings, the community who uses the facility will benefit.
I second what the deputy director of Scottish Book Trust, Sophie Moxon, when she said that “libraries are an integral part of communities across the country, providing a hugely important service that can often change the direction of a library user’s life.”
The Trust has launched its own ‘Love Letter to Your Library’ campaign to highlight how important a library is to everyone who lives in Scotland, and how they would be lost without it.
The Chief Executive of the Scottish Library and Information Council (SLIC) Amina Shah further added that libraries mean different things to different people.
She said:
“For some, they are a quiet space to get lost in a good book, while for others they are a social space to attend events, meet people and learn something new. Our Love Letters to Libraries campaign will give people a chance to show the full extent of their appreciation for these quiet guardians of the written word.”
I would encourage everyone across my Banffshire and Buchan constituency to look out for events associated with Scottish Book Week, and any others regularly held at local libraries.
There are many ways that we can strive to improve education across Scotland and I am proud to be a member of a party that is committed to this. But we should also make the most of what we have available to us, and not neglect the fantastic resources that could be just around the corner.
