Agenda

Including any notices of motion and any other items of business submitted as urgent for consideration at the meeting.

Members should declare any financial and non-financial interests they have in the items of business for consideration, identifying the relevant agenda item and the nature of their interest.

If any

Minute of Culture and Communities Committee of 4 October 2022  – submitted for approval as a correct record

Minute of Culture and Communities Committee of 13 October 2022 – submitted for approval as a correct record

Business Bulletin

Committee: 

1. Welcomes, further to the discussion of acquiring library resources at the last Culture and Communities Committee meeting, the publication of the briefing note Provision of Ukrainian Language Book Stock in Edinburgh Libraries (‘the briefing note’)

2. Thanks the staff of the library services for the excellent work noted therein they have done to ensure Ukrainian refugees have access to library resources in appropriate languages, including providing lending collections of Ukrainian language books and Ebooks, and ensuring relevant library services are provided through engaging with community groups and representative organisations. 

3. Requests a report to be made to Committee within 3 cycles containing information on:

(a) What steps have been taken to realise the aims laid out in Section 4 (“Next Steps”) of the briefing note to ensure expanded provision of library resources for refugees from Ukraine

(b) How the Council develops its library collections to meet reader needs arising from the city’s growing national, ethnic and linguistic diversity, including how it meets the needs of its readers who are

(i) Refugees

(ii) Asylum seekers

(iii) BAME (Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic) people

(iv) People for whom English is not their first language 

The Committee is requested under Section 50(A)(4) of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973 to exclude the public from the meeting for the following item of business on the grounds that they would involve the disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraphs 8 and 9 of Part 1 of Schedule 7A of the Act.