Arts Council England Press Office

Bournemouth Libraries’ pilot project will place QR codes initially in Bournemouth library, and then at locations around the city, linking cultural resources and activities together for the public via their smart phones. Training workshops will be carried out in the library to enable the public to understand and use QR codes.

These projects will look at ways libraries can work together with arts and other cultural organisations to enrich the way that people experience arts and culture. The LDI will invest in 13 pilot projects designed to test new approaches to library service delivery. They will explore innovative, locally appropriate and enterprising ways of working, resulting in a resilient vision for future public library services.

Alan Davey, Chief Executive, Arts Council England said: “The successful projects all show a really forward-looking approach. They’re imaginative and ambitious and will be immensely helpful in demonstrating to the wider sector the important role the public library can play in our 21st century cultural life.”

Cllr Flick Rea, Chair of the Local Government Association’s Culture, Tourism and Sport Board, said: “A library in the 21st century can be part of a cultural hub which supports everything from education and lifelong learning to health, volunteering, art projects, job hunting and social care. Last year’s Future Libraries Programme shone a spotlight on some of the best and most innovative ideas for improvement. This Libraries Development Initiative funding will help councils build on those ideas and capitalise on the expertise within local government to ensure that library users – and those who perhaps don’t currently visit their local library – get a fantastic library service fit for the modern age.”

Phil Gibby, Regional Director of Arts Council England, said: “This pilot program is a great opportunity for people to learn new digital skills creating exciting and original ways they can experience arts and culture.

The project aims to catapult Libraries and the arts to the forefront of new Smartphone technology, delivering and showcasing services in a totally new and innovative way fit for the 21st Century.”

The Arts Council assumed responsibilities for museums and libraries, formerly held by the Museums, Libraries and Archives Council (MLA), at the government’s request in October 2011. The LDI builds on the MLA and Local Government Association’s Future Libraries Programme to look at new approaches to public library service delivery.

Following receipt of expressions of interest, Arts Council England invited 19 applicants to make a full submission. They requested a total of £339,743 against a total budget of £230,000, more strong applications than the Arts Council were able to fund.

Also today, the Arts Council is publishing Opening up a new world: Public libraries connecting housebound people to the networked nation. This is a project initiated by the MLA and now managed by the Arts Council to provide skilled library staff as coaches to elderly and housebound people in connecting to the internet.

The project had a huge impact on the lives of participants who found new ways to be in touch with friends and family, and to forge links across generations and geographies through their public library provision.

This is a partnership project with Race Online 2012, the BBC, the Society of Chief Librarians (SCL) and Microsoft, in response to statistics outlined in The Race Online 2012 Manifesto for a Networked Nation, which stated that over 10 million adults in the UK have never used the internet, of whom 39% are over 65.

Martha Lane Fox, Race Online 2012, said: "The Opening up a new world project funded by Arts Council England demonstrated the important role of libraries as trusted information hubs in their local communities. The trained library staff acted as digital champions, supporting people to develop the skills and confidence needed to participate in a networked nation.”

Communications Minister, Ed Vaizey, said: “The Internet has transformed our lives and everyone should have the chance to share in the benefits it can bring. Getting online can make a huge difference to people particularly those who are housebound. It will help them shop, access services and stay in touch with friends and family. This is an excellent example of how libraries can tackle digital exclusion and enrich the lives of the people they serve.”

Through the projects funded by the Libraries Development Initiative and other initiatives such as Opening up a new world: Public libraries connecting housebound people to the networked nation, libraries will build on the best of current practice to create a vibrant, sustainable, 21st century public library service.

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For more information contact:
Sam Gough, Media Relations Officer, Arts Council England
Tel: 020 7973 5189 or 07872 416679
Email: sam.gough@artscouncil.org.uk