Are libraries facing extinction?
We don’t think so and Leicester City Council evidently shares our viewpoint. They have appointed Erskine to assist them in the development of a new Libraries Strategy.
The project will involve a review of all aspects of libraries provision within Leicester, from the state of library buildings, to use of the latest technology and the future needs of the workforce as the traditional role of the librarian changes.
Responding to the government’s challenge to revolutionise existing libraries service and create the ‘libraries of the future’, Leicester has already done some very interesting work to transform its service.
One of its brand new community libraries, the BRITE Centre in the heart of Braunstone estate, has won awards for its innovative design and the way that it brings together library services with a wide variety of other facilities. These include a drop in point for the council’s customer services, computer / internet access, training rooms, a training kitchen to promote healthy eating messages and a community cafe to provide a hub for social interaction in the local community.
The Central Library-Lending has pioneered work with offenders, asylum seekers, refugees and Looked After Children, contributing to the Council achieving Beacon status for ‘Cultural Services for hard to reach groups and the ‘Libraries Change Lives’ award.
This is an exciting and challenging project for Erskine and we look forward to help the council position itself at the forefront of contemporary library provision.
Fort further information contact Simon Campbell