School Library Improvement Fund (United Kingdom)

The School Library Improvement Fund is designed to help schools which already have a dedicated school library and who want to improve their services and provision.

The Fund plays an important role in helping school library services demonstrate the continued impact of the strategic aims of Vibrant Libraries, Thriving Schools: A National Strategy for School Libraries in Scotland 2018-2023, the strategic document for the development of school libraries in Scotland.

Aims

• Your application should demonstrate which strategic aim your project will support in line with Vibrant Libraries, Thriving Schools. These aims are as follows:
  • Strategic Aim 1: School libraries in Scotland are a key resource and are central to the implementation of Curriculum for Excellence, develop pupil skills for the world of work, and encourage learning that will stay with pupils throughout their lives.
  • Strategic Aim 2: School libraries in Scotland use digital technology to deliver high quality and efficient digital learning experiences for young people, enabling access to information and creative opportunities.
  • Strategic Aim 3: School libraries in Scotland are central to education for all ages, develop a culture of reading for pleasure, offer literacy numeracy support from ELC settings through to primary and secondary schools, and enable opportunities for family learning.
  • Strategic Aim 4: School libraries in Scotland contribute to health literacy, social and mental wellbeing, and provide a safe, trusted space for children and young people to be nurtured.
  • Strategic Aim 5: School libraries in Scotland are essential to closing the attainment gap, support all curriculum area, are well-supported by the school management team and operate under a successful working model.

Priorities

• This year, as well as supporting the impact and strategic aims of Vibrant Libraries, Thriving Schools, projects should support at least one of the following funding priorities:
  • Promoting literacy and numeracy, especially targeting 4-8-year-olds.
  • Information and media literacy
  • Mental health support

Funding Information

• The Fund available is £150,000.
• There is no minimum or maximum amount for applications.
• Projects must be completed within 12 months.

What they can’t Fund?

• As the School Library Improvement Fund supports creative and innovative projects, SLIC is unlikely to fund applications which are similar to previously successful projects.
• Funding cannot cover the following:
  • Setting up a new school library
  • Refurbishing a current school library
  • Solely refreshing school library stock
  • Solely refreshing library resources

Who can Apply?

• The fund is available to all state nurseries, primary schools, and secondary schools in Scotland with an established library. Schools can apply to the Fund in two ways:
  • Individual Application from School Libraries under One Local Authority
    • A school library can apply on its own without any collaboration with other school libraries and/or authorities. SLIC accepts up to two Individual Applications per local authority. This is to give each authority an equal opportunity when applying.
  • Collaborative Application from one or more Local Authority
    • SLIC accepts an unlimited number of Collaborative Applications. This is where an application is made by either two or more schools from separate Local Authorities and/or external partners.
• While SLIC encourages multi-disciplinary and cooperative working, Collaborative Applications must be led by school library services.

For more information, visit Scottish Library and Information Council.