Equality in Council Library services

“In our democratic society, the library stands for hope, for learning, for progress, for literacy, for self-improvement and for civic engagement. The library is a symbol of opportunity, citizenship, equality, freedom of speech and freedom of thought, and hence, is a symbol for democracy itself.”[1]

Such profound and gloriously articulated sentiments, given voice by Vartan Gregorian, someone who followed in the footsteps of Andrew Carnegie, and with which few would find just cause to disagree. And yet, as with acclaim for any pillar of society, the positive contributions claimed for it must be earned and evidenced.

As a lifetime book borrower from libraries in Scotland, my instinct is to help draw attention to and applaud the flag raised by Vartan Gregorian. As someone who has worked at eliminating discrimination for a few decades, my instinct is to ask for sight of the evidence that libraries in Scotland should be seen as a symbol of equality.

This report sets out the results of research into just how much Council library services across Scotland can be said to symbolise equality and what evidence they gather to demonstrate they are equally accessible to all.

[1] Vartan Gregorian - https://www.carnegie.org/news/articles/obituary-president-vartan-gregorian/