by Foysol Choudhury, MSP for Lothian Region.
While libraries across the UK have faced years of closures, Edinburgh has been moving in the opposite direction.
As of mid-2025, the city council has protected its network of 28 public libraries. Not a single council-run library has been closed in the city’s history, bucking a national trend that has seen more than 180 libraries close since 2016.
That is why the latest news about the Library of the Year awards matters. Four local branches: Kirkliston, Craigmillar, South Queensferry and Oxgangs, have been shortlisted. At a time when many communities are losing their libraries, Edinburgh’s facilities are being recognised for the role they continue to play at the heart of local life.
Libraries today are far more than places that lend books. They have become vital community hubs, hosting reading groups, children’s activities, job clubs, cultural events and public meetings, while also offering welcoming spaces where people can study, work or simply spend time without the expectation to spend money. In many neighbourhoods, particularly in dense urban areas, libraries are among the few truly public indoor spaces that remain open and accessible to everyone.
As their role in communities has expanded, libraries have increasingly become front doors to wider support services. Library staff often help people access public services, navigate complex digital systems and assist residents facing homelessness, mental health challenges or social isolation. Their work now extends far beyond managing book loans: they help people access essential services, de-escalate difficult situations and support vulnerable residents, all while keeping these vital community spaces open.
Following recent reports of violence against library staff in Edinburgh, I recently asked the Scottish Government what discussions it is having with Police Scotland and local authorities to ensure library workers can continue providing services in a safe and protected environment.
Strong libraries depend not only on buildings and collections, but on dedicated staff who make them welcoming, safe and accessible to everyone. Protecting and valuing that workforce is essential if libraries are to remain at the heart of our communities.
