Pauline Smeaton
Fife Cultural Trust
WINNER
Best Arts Champion - Local Authority or Cultural Trust Worker 2020
Pauline’s passion for literacy and creativity is well recognised within the communities she serves. She has dedicated her 28-year library career to engaging young people in the wonder of books and reading for pleasure. Pauline has 30 schools and 7 libraries within her remit, and her active promotion of libraries and literacy – from babies through to teenagers – has created a much-valued reading ethos.
Pauline has often been a part of the children’s lives from when they were babies through to adulthood. Everyone knows Pauline and the great work she does! Pauline’s dedication is so well recognised that she recently received the Citizen of the Year Award 2019 from the children and families of Ladybank Primary School. She endeavours to encourage and develop a reading culture and a love for stories, ultimately enriching the lives and opportunities of the young People in North East Fife.
Pauline continues to do everything in her power to ensure every child in North East Fife has access to the library service in some way. In addition, she has worked very hard to establish and maintain strong relationships with all 30 of her schools, to ensure they have access to our services even when there may be no physical library presence within the communities. This includes Bookbug sessions, accommodating trips to the library, story times, providing access to author events and participating in the annual Big Book Brain Quiz and P.7 Book Awards. Her dedication to providing literary opportunities has resulted in a well-established reading culture which is highly valued within the community.
Pauline is a valued and dedicated employee, who exudes passion and enthusiasm in everything she does. In an area of Fife hit hardest by library closures over the years, Pauline has ensured that the presence of the Library Service and promotion of literacy remains within these affected areas.
Photo credit: ONFife (Fife Cultural Trust)
What our judges said:
Pauline’s commitment to supporting the arts is evident and she is clearly an asset to the community.
"Pauline Smeaton is good news!
"Pauline is a powerful promoter of literacy and book culture among the young, promoting libraries as well as giving young parents an inspiring place to take their children to encourage their learning and love of words.
"At a time when so many libraries are closing, it is fantastic to read about Pauline’s above and beyond passion for and commitment to literacy in young people, and more than that: a love of books and of reading.
"Pauline clearly loves her work and is a passionate advocate for literacy and reading for pleasure, especially among children and young people. She’s got strong roots within her communities and should be proud of the significant role she’s played in the childhood of so many children over the years.
"When I despair to live in a country where central government cuts have forced local authorities to close nearly 800 libraries in the last ten years, it's particularly good to find a Trust with the vision and faith to employ someone like Pauline Smeaton. As a parent of two under-fives, I see how much my daughters’ lives are broadened and improved by love of books. Pauline carries that faith into the community, and spreads the joy of reading to the widest possible audience. More power to her.
"It would be hard to find someone more passionate about libraries and literacy, and more enthusiastic about spreading that passion, than Pauline. More than anything, she has managed to create a presence for books and reading in an area where library closures have hit hardest.
"Pauline is my personal winner out of this long-list. The main reasons being: her work in libraries is so significantly needed, and has been for the past decade really, and she has been succeeding in keeping libraries and literature in people’s lives, which is no mean feat
"Libraries have suffered in a more extreme way than the arts as a whole and, whilst further suffering for other art forms might sadly be just around the corner, Pauline Smeaton’s work deserves exposure. Her activity is also very focussed on schools and on children. Arts in education may continue to suffer over the coming years, but the way in which Pauline ensures access to books will be a sure-fire way of ensuring the education, literacy, freedom and independence of young people in her local area.
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