Martin Whitfield MSP and Douglas Alexander MP have visited the John Gray Centre in Haddington to celebrate Libraries Week 2025 and highlight the vital role libraries play in supporting local people, skills, and community life.
The visit, part of the national Libraries Change Lives campaign coordinated by CILIP – the UK’s library and information association – showcased how libraries are helping to boost economic growth, tackle digital exclusion, improve literacy, and support wellbeing in communities across the UK.
During the visit, the MSP and MP met with East Lothian Council’s Libraries & Museums Manager, Caroline Messer, as well as library staff and local history staff, toured the building, and heard first-hand how local libraries are supporting people in areas such as:
- Access to digital services and devices
- Job searching and skills development
- Children’s literacy and early learning
- Community events and safe, welcoming spaces
Speaking after the visit, Martin Whitfield MSP said:
“Libraries remain vitally important hubs for accessing learning, information and wider services. I welcome East Lothian Council’s ongoing commitment to our local libraries, despite the funding pressures facing all local authorities.
“I’m proud to support Libraries Week and thank the amazing local library staff, including those who work in our schools, for all they do in local communities.”
Douglas Alexander MP said:
“It was a real pleasure to visit the John Gray Centre and see the wide range of support it offers to our community. From helping people back into work to supporting children’s learning and offering a warm space to connect, it’s clear that libraries really do change lives.
“I’m also very pleased to see the recognition of the contribution that libraries and library staff make to supporting economic growth in the theme for this year’s Libraries Week.”
Caroline Messer, Manager – Customer Services, Libraries & Museums, East Lothian Council, said:
“Our library teams across East Lothian work closely with customers, readers, visitors and partners to ensure that whether it’s in a town, village or secondary school, the service, support and activities provided reflect the local community.
“I’m proud to manage a staff team who work hard to ensure that libraries are safe, welcoming and inclusive spaces offering the opportunity to learn, to develop, to relax and to belong. I was delighted to welcome along our MP and MSP to find out more about what we offer and meet some of the team.”
Libraries Week runs from 2 – 8 June, celebrating the work of libraries across the UK and highlighting the impact they make in people’s lives. For more information, visit https://www.cilip.org.uk/page/libraries-change-lives.