Wiltshire Libraries staff shortlisted for the Libraries Connected Awards

Two members of staff from Wiltshire Council's libraries service have been announced as finalists in the prestigious Libraries Connected Awards.

These national awards celebrate the achievements of people working in public libraries, commemorating the variety of support library services deliver for their communities.

Basil Nankivell has been shortlisted for the Vision and Print Impaired People Award for consistently going above and beyond and establishing a Visually Impaired Person's Reading Group. The group meet monthly to discuss the audiobooks they've been reading. This group has been really positive for those who have attended, giving them an opportunity to engage and socialise on a regular basis, where this might not have been possible through established reading groups.

Peter Waterman has been shortlisted for the Health and Wellbeing Award for his work to develop and launch the Warm and Welcome Libraries offer. This scheme provides warm spaces for people and a friendly environment where they can access a variety of support to help them with the cost-of-living, or just keep warm with a hot drink and chat with people or read a book.

Cllr Ian Blair-Pilling, Cabinet Member for Libraries, said: "I'd like to congratulate both Basil and Peter for the outstanding achievement of being shortlisted in these prestigious awards, which demonstrates their dedication and hard work. It is well deserved and I wish them the very best of luck.

"Our libraries are well-connected with our communities and provide the opportunity to meet and engage with each other. This is a key aim of our business plan and its thanks to innovative schemes such as these, developed by our hard working and caring staff and volunteers, that we're making this a reality."

The winners will be announced in June 2024 at a ceremony during the Libraries Connected annual seminar in Warwickshire.

More information about Wiltshire Council's library service can be found at Libraries.