Live Life Aberdeenshire’s HMP and YOI Grampian Library Team has been named ‘SLIC Library Team of the Year’ in the Scottish Library and Information Council’s (SLIC) annual awards.
The team was recognised for its exceptional contribution to inclusion, communication, and rehabilitation through the development of a foreign language prison phrase book.
This innovative resource has transformed the experience of people in custody at HMP and YOI Grampian by bridging critical language gaps between staff and prison residents using the Live Life Aberdeenshire library in the facility.
The team was one of eight library services shortlisted for the SLIC Awards 2025, celebrating the teams and projects transforming communities across the country.
The annual awards recognise library teams and projects that go beyond traditional services, driving social impact, learning and inclusion across Scotland, and are judged by an independent panel. The results were announced on Friday (Oct 31).
The phrase book developed by the library team focused on enhanced communication, the promotion of inclusion and equality, improved safety and wellbeing, supporting rehabilitation, operational efficiency, and collaborative and inclusive development.
It has helped staff to convey instructions, safety protocols, and support services clearly, while ensuring equitable access to information and services for those in custody.
With staff now spending less time resolving language-related issues in the library, they are now able to provide more proactive support to services users.
The phrase book was co-created with input from residents across language groups, ensuring relevance and accuracy. Foreign nationals reviewed translations, and helped ensure the document reflects the real communication needs within the facility.
Due to its success locally, the phrase book has been shared with the Scottish Prison Service (SPS) and is currently being rolled out across the entire SPS estate, demonstrating its value and scalability.
Cllr Anne Stirling, chair of Aberdeenshire Council’s Communities Committee, said: “We are so pleased to see the team’s work recognised at the awards. This initiative exemplifies the power of thoughtful innovation in library services and the profound impact of inclusive practice.
“The phrase book has helped to significantly improve communication, reduce anxiety, and promote equality and inclusion from the moment those in custody arrive. This collaborative approach has fostered empathy, cultural awareness, and mutual respect among residents of the facility.
“The HMP and YOI Grampian Library Team has not only improved lives within their own facility but set a benchmark for prison libraries across Scotland, and this honour is well-deserved.”
Area Librarian Pearl Morrison said: “The work done by the library team in HMP and YOI Grampian is a great example of teamwork and inclusion.
“It has improved communication and understanding in the prison environment, and I’m proud that the staff identified the opportunity produced a resource that has led to such positive feedback.”
Martin Milne, Governor in Charge at HMP and YOI Grampian, said: “We are absolutely delighted to see the library team that work within HMP Grampian being recognised with this national award.
“The service, delivered in partnership with Aberdeenshire Council, has been a cornerstone of our establishment since opening over 11 years ago. The team’s commitment to inclusion, learning, and rehabilitation is evident in everything they do, and the foreign language phrase book is a fantastic example of innovation with real impact.
“Over 80% of our population regularly use the library, and this award is a testament to the value it brings to the lives of those in our care.”