West Dunbartonshire Council’s Culture Section comprises arts development, exhibitions, and heritage and museum services. As part of Educational Services the section promotes cultural activities, events and exhibition programmes for the whole community in locations across the authority. Our museums programme aims to preserve and promote the rich local history through care of the collections, exhibitions, schools and community activities. A recent addition to the section is its Learning Development Programme coordinated by our Learning Development Officer Maeve Dixon.
This will allow us to promote schools and community workshops and activities linked to the Curriculum for Excellence, and informal learning. Comprising a small and dedicated team of staff the work of the Culture Section has been recognised locally and nationally for the high standard of its work. Including our work with school and pupils consultation, volunteer projects and the Backdoor Gallery. Our World War II project Their Past Your Future achieved a National COSLA award, and work with community groups such as West Dunbartonshire Heritage has been promoted by the Big Lottery as Best Practice. We recently worked with the Friends of Clydebank Museum to produce the local history publication ‘Life in the Victorian Era’ providing a pictorial view of Dumbarton, Clydebank and the Vale of Leven in the 1800’s.
In 2008 the section was nominated for a WDC Star Award and in 2009 were nominated twice again for these awards and won in the Improving Council category for their Volunteer programme. The staff look forward to an exciting programme of events during 2010, and working with the public to promote access to high quality cultural exhibitions, activities and events in West Dunbartonshire.
Libraries in West Dunbartonshire
Welcome to West Dunbartonshire’s Library Service. We provide 10 community libraries, supported by a Young People’s team and also an ICT and Learning Team which are both based at the Library Headquarters.
Specialist local studies and family research staff in Clydebank and Dumbarton libraries provide expert advice. Also available is the Mobile and Housebound Service which delivers items to customers who have difficulty in getting to a library.A wide range of items can be borrowed free of charge: from books and talking books to music CDs, children’s DVDs and language packs. A free request service is now provided for any items not readily available on the shelves. From the comfort of our home, you can renew your items and place reservations on others, using LibraryOnline, our online library catalogue.
All libraries have learning centres with free broadband internet access and a range of software applications. Dedicated IT trainers deliver courses throughout the year as part of the libraries’ Quest programme. Our learning centre computers are accessible to people with disabilities and one-to-one training in the use of these resources can be provided.
For further information on all aspects of the Library Service including exciting future developments please click here.
