Libraries Connected Seminar 2019

Thursday, 13 June, 2019 - 09:30 to Friday, 14 June, 2019 - 15:30

Libraries: A place for us all

This has been a transformative year for us as we settle into our new role as a sector support organisation. We have begun to develop exciting projects which will support services in the regions and help to secure a stronger future for public libraries.

This year’s seminar reflects this programme of work and will focus on what a future library offer might look like. We will discuss the challenges of developing new activities and services to fund core work and hear about the ways in which local libraries are working with partners to create places and environments where people want to live and work.

Our President Mark Freeman, President Elect, Carol Stump and our CEO, Isobel Hunter will open the event with an overview of all that we’ve achieved together during the last 12 months. They will also focus on the major projects that Libraries Connected are currently working on. This includes our work with Carnegie UK and CILIP to explore a new roadmap for public libraries and our new project funded by the Arts Council to improve the support available to our regional networks.

You will also have the chance to meet colleagues from beyond the sector and from library services outside of the UK, giving you a valuable opportunity to reflect, consider and engage with ideas and activities that we hope will inspire and encourage you. Last year, 98% of people found the seminar useful and the same amount said they would recommend the seminar to a colleague.

A series of Ignite talks and workshop sessions will provide delegates with the opportunity to learn about best practice in engaging with communities to improve and enhance services. We will also share the results of our Universal Offer review which has been completed in partnership with Shared Intelligence.

Confirmed speakers for this year’s event include:

  • Louise Cooper and Patrick Bek from Historypin. Historypin works to bring groups together through story sharing to build strong, resilient, thriving communities. They’ve recently been exploring how technology can get in the way of this, why in-person storytelling is essential for empathy-building interactions, and how the principles of gameplay enable participatory action.
  • Catherine Lau, Assistant Chief Executive of the Public Library Group of the National Library Board in Singapore. Catherine believes that public libraries must transform themselves to keep up with the fast changes in the information landscape. Her vision is embedded in the Library of the Future Master Plan, which has seen five libraries revamped between 2016–2017, with each library seeing significant increases in customer use and satisfaction.
  • Carole Stewart, Assistant Director, Ealing Council, who will speak on placemaking. Carole is an expert in leading organisational change and service improvement in the arts, heritage, libraries and adult learning sectors. She has led various capital projects and programmes, including the restoration of museum/heritage facilities and the development of leisure, arts and community assets.

We will also hold a session on defining the public library offer and the role of the 21st century public servant.

Below is a copy of the event brochure (please note this is subject to change). For more information about the event please contact Helen Drakard helen.drakard@librariesconnected.org.uk