The Scottish Government is allocating £1 million to improve school libraries across Scotland over the next three years.
The School Library Improvement Fund will be open for education authorities to apply for funding on behalf of school libraries in their area including Renfrewshire.
It will fund projects designed to enhance library provision at schools, as part of a wider approach to improve literacy skills and educational attainment.
Councillor Jim Paterson, Convener of Renfrewshire Council’s Education and Children’s Services Policy Board, said: “We welcome the announcement of funding for the upgrade of school libraries and will prepare a submission to the Improvement Fund in due course.
“Renfrewshire has an active library provision in each of our 11 secondary schools and operates supported intervention for library and literacy developments at primary level.
“Delivered by Renfrewshire Leisure, we have a number of programmes working to address the attainment gap through our library provision, including activities such as paired reading groups, lunchtime book clubs, author visits and support for reluctant readers, with each programme accessing support from the Council’s Attainment Fund.
“We recognise that libraries play an important role in the life of schools and individual learners and we’re committed to ensuring our children have the best possible start in life regardless of their background.
“We look forward to continuing our creative approach to school library provision and utilising the opportunities afforded to us by the new Improvement Fund.”
Deputy First Minister and Education Secretary, John Swinney, said: “School libraries play a vital role in supporting literacy and improving attainment.
“The launch of the School Library Improvement Fund will further strengthen that role – giving school libraries access to additional resource that can improve the service they provide to pupils.
“This could be improvements to the library environment, funding for additional activity to engage more young people to use the school library or projects that will encourage wider engagement with the local community.
“We want to know what school librarians, teachers and education authorities think would work best in their school.
“It is part of a range of new measures to improve and invest in our school libraries -including new improvement guidance and the development of a new national strategy for school libraries in Scotland.”