Scottish libraries urged to modernise for users
Monday 07 May 2012
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EmailScotland's charities called on public libraries on Monday to adapt to "a changing world" despite figures revealing that Scots use the service more than any one else in Britain.
An Ipsos-Mori poll for the Carnegie UK Trust showed that 76 per cent of Scots think libraries are still important or essential to their community.
More than 60 per cent of the 1,000 surveyed north of the border said they had used a library at least once in the past year, which is higher than any other part of Britain.
But the trust said libraries were at a "crossroads" and that changes were needed to respond to reduced levels of public spending, the challenges of the digital age and changes in people's lifestyles.
It noted that a number of councils had shown examples of "good practice," including Orkney's use of social media, South Ayrshire's e-publishing initiative and the City of Edinburgh Council's smartphone app, which shows library locations, events, bus links and other information.
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