'Knowing Your Communities' with Create Gloucestershire & Gloucestershire Libraries: Watch the webinar

We were delighted to be asked by the British Libraries as part of their Living Knowledge Network to talk about Art of Libraries and the impact it has had on two early adopter libraries in very different settings, and how they engage with local communities and tailor strategies to their individual areas.

Our webinar theme was around how to make community engagement projects effective and meaningful through the following questions:

How can your library effectively engage with its local communities?
How can you help break down barriers to access?
How can you tailor strategies to your area?

Starting with Art of Libraries as a case study and our work with children, young people and families, Seth who works in the Innovation Lab at Coleford Library and Anne at Tewkesbury Library shared how this has developed and had an impact within their current programmes of work. I would definitely recommend fast forwarding and listening to Anne and Seth (Says Louise!)

You can access a recording of the webinar here:

Watch the webinar

As a reminder:

Art of Libraries was a three year pilot project to re-imagine libraries as a first place for creativity, discovery and play for children, families and young people The pilot was led by Create Gloucestershire with Gloucestershire Libraries, with investment from Esmée Fairbairn Foundation, Arts Council England, other trusts and foundations and support from Real Ideas and The Barnwood Trust.

Since the end of the programme, we have created and launched a digital toolkit designed to inspire anyone working with libraries that shares our learning about how to incubate creative and innovative approaches and partnerships.