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The Society of Authors in Scotland

The Society of Authors in Scotland (SoAiS) is a regional group of the Society of Authors. If you have a Scottish postcode you are automatically added to the SoAiS when you join the SoA.

The SoAiS organises a varied and busy calendar of activities through a committee of volunteers. Group activities are reported in the SoA’s quarterly magazine, The Author. There is also discussion in their Facebook group.

SoAiS members can take advantage of a number of exclusive benefits, such as events and special discounts.

The SoAiS is a network member of Publishing Scotland, and together the two organisations have produced a good practice covenant between authors and publishers in Scotland. The SoAiS is also represented at meetings of the Literature Forum and the Scottish Parliamentary Cross Party Group on Culture and Media.

SLIC

The Scottish Library and Information Council (SLIC), established in 1991, is the independent advisory body to the Scottish Government on library and information related matters.

Members are drawn from the public sector, school libraries, higher education institutions, further education colleges, health libraries and special interest libraries.

SLIC is a registered charity and registered company guided by a Board with strong sector and industry representation as well as independent members. SLIC is core funded by the Scottish Government and achieves additional funding to support its purpose through its membership and projects.

SLIC aims to:

  • Provide a leadership focus for Scottish library and information services and to facilitate coordination on a national level.
  • Lead development in the library sector.
  • Promote understanding of Scotland’s library and information sector and its firm contribution to the life of the nation.
  • Monitor standards of provision and promote development.
  • Advise the Scottish Government on all matters concerning library and information services.
  • Undertake research and promote innovation.
  • Foster partnerships with relevant organisations and institutions to further SLIC’s strategic objectives.
  • Award grants to promote innovative developments in Scottish library and information services.

Booksellers Association

The Booksellers Association represents and promotes retail bookselling in the UK and Ireland and encourages best practice and excellence. Their membership ranges from bookselling chains like Waterstone’s and Blackwells, to supermarkets, academic booksellers, wholesalers, school and library suppliers, Christian and children’s booksellers and over 1100 independent bookshops.

The BA provides a wide range of products and services, ranging from National Book Tokens and the payments clearing system Batch.co.uk, advice and information on legislation, trade and retail matters, a free Business Support Helpline, marketing initiatives for the industry, such as World Book Day, and also for specific sectors, like Independent Booksellers Week.

They keep a close eye on developments in technology, and have a raft of advice and information on ebooks and all the technologies that underpin the 21st century book trade.

The BA’s website has a Bookshop Search page, where you can find all the bookshop members of the Booksellers Association in the UK & Ireland. You can search all members, or by a range of filters. You will find helpful information about all bookshops listed, as well as website and telephone numbers. You may also be interested in their Bookshop Search App, which you can find on both the Apple Store and for Android devices too.