Congratulations to Library Service

The East Lothian Library Service made the final shortlist for The Bookseller’s Library of the Year Award.

The judging team noted: "A packed events programme and support for its school librarians gained East Lothian Council Library Service its shortlisting.

'The small council has 12 public libraries and six secondary schools, with the school librarians recently integrating with the public library service. East Lothian is now one of the very few councils in Scotland with a full-time qualified librarian in every secondary school, and the school librarians get professional support and leadership from the Schools & Young People’s Service at the council,specifically from senior librarian Agnes Guyon.

'The library service also has an impressive events programme, making use of support from Creative Scotland and the Scottish Book Trust to hold more than 30 author events last year, including with Judy Murray, cyclist Mark Beaumont, broadcaster Sally Magnusson and Katie Morag creator Mhairi Hedderwick.

'An extensive programme for Book Week Scotland, a young people’s book festival to celebrate the 700th anniversary of a charter granted to the town of Haddington by Robert the Bruce, and a series of adventure talks featuring the likes of writer Benedict Allen and filmmaker Gordon Buchanan are upcoming in 2018.'

"Author visits are something we’ve been really keen on," said area librarian Trina Gavan. "While it’s great to see authors at the Edinburgh Book Festival, that’s not affordable foreveryone. We want to present events that are accessible to everyone."

The library service also has its own book award, the Lennox Award, for titles aimed at those aged five to seven. The nominated authors attend an awards ceremony, while classes of schoolchildren give presentations to champion their favourite short- listed book.