Libraries programmes and initiatives
Explore the key areas of our work with libraries across England.
Libraries programmes and initiatives
Current projects and programmes
Business and Intellectual Property Centres
The BIPC at the British Library supports small business owners, entrepreneurs, and inventors to start up, protect, and grow their businesses. People can visit the BIPC at the British Library to access many databases and collections including help guides, and general business advice. The BIPC also has a wide range of webinars, offering support to SMEs across the country. Alongside the BIPC at the British Library, there is also a national network of 21 BIPCs in public libraries across the UK, offering free access to resources, training, and events including one-to-one expert clinics on topics such as business advice, social media, market research, and intellectual property.
E-licensing for public libraries
This Libraries Connected initiative, supported by the Arts Council, will research the landscape, practices and commercial interests of e-licencing between publishers, aggregators and public libraries with the aim of increasing affordability and availability of digital content to public library services.
Emerging Library Leaders
With Arts Council England support, this cross-sector scoping study will inform the development of an Emerging Leader programme for libraries that builds on the learning from the Transforming Leadership programme ‘Leading Libraries’ delivered by Libraries Connected and the Birmingham Leadership Institute and is aimed at improving ethnic diversity across the UK library. Led by RLUK, partners include Libraries Connected, CILIP, Society of College, National and University Libraries, Wales Higher Education Library Forum and Scottish Confederation of University and Research Libraries.
Future Funding Programme
This Arts Council England funded programme, delivered by Libraries Connected, supports public libraries to develop critical skills and knowledge needed to take a proactive approach to diversifying and increasing their income, including how to develop income generation strategies.
Future Skills Programme
With funding from Arts Council England, CILIP has developed resources to support the future and development of the public library sector:
- A ‘Welcome to Public Libraries’ induction pack for new public library staff, volunteers and apprentices, and;
- A Digital Skills Programme of open-source, freely-available online learning modules, complementing the existing Digital Skills resources provided by Libraries Connected in Learning Pool.
Welcome to Libraries induction pack
Digital leadership for libraries
Get Ready for Business Growth
This Arts Council England funded programme, delivered by The British Library, helps creative businesses looking to grow, scale up, and adapt to change. The programme runs every three months and businesses in the creative sector across England with a turnover of £100000, including museums and libraries, can apply to take part in and access a programme of online specialist support and tailored one-to-one advice. The programme covers a range of modules including good governance and building purpose into your organisation, building your brand, and financial planning for growth. Businesses on the programme also become members of the Growth Club with access to many opportunities including networking, group mentoring, and press and PR events.
Green Libraries Partnership
CILIP’s Arts Council England supported Green Libraries partnership places libraries at the heart of environmental change, enabling librarians and library workers to build environmental action within their communities. The programme offers many opportunities for libraries to get involved including the Green Libraries Network.
Healthier, Happier, Connected
Led by East Riding Libraries in collaboration with the University of Hull and funded by Arts Council England, this pilot project explores ways of improving health literacy through library-based conversations leading to signposting, social prescription or other interventions that lessen the impact of poor health and wellbeing and health inequalities.
Learning Pool
Libraries Connected’s online learning platform, developed with Arts Council England support, provides free access for library staff to digital skills development in key areas across the public library sector.
LGA Culture and Libraries Improvement Programme
This Arts Council England supported programme provides crucial development and learning opportunities for those in key officer and councillor roles championing cultural activity in local areas. The programme is made up of peer challenges, leadership workshops for senior officers and lead members, and a programme for new and emerging leaders in the sector.
Universal Library Offers
Libraries Connected and partners – including Arts Council England – are committed to keeping library services relevant and accessible. Key areas have been identified as Universal Library Offers that will enable libraries to enrich the lives of their local communities through a core programme of activity and information:
- Health and Wellbeing
- Culture and Creativity
- Information and Digital
- Reading
- Children’s Promise
- Vision and Print Impaired People’s
Previous programmes and initiatives
BBC Novels that Shaped our World: Libraries programme
The BBC Novels That Shaped Our World libraries campaign was designed to get more people reading novels through the power of libraries. The BBC joined forces with Libraries Connected supported by Arts Council England and The Reading Agency on a multi-platform engagement collaboration to celebrate the joy of reading.
Common libraries
Commissioned by Arts Council England, this independent work from Common Futures explores the potential for library-hack-makerspaces. This initiative offered an exciting opportunity for libraries to support creativity, skills development, and enterprise, including the potential to facilitate Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths skills development.
Leading Libraries
Supported by the Arts Council, this leadership development programme for public libraries, developed and managed by Libraries Connected, aims to harness the talent of underrepresented groups in the library workforce through developing innovative, entrepreneurial library workers who will have the confidence and the vision to lead teams in tough times and who actively represent the communities they serve.
Libraries development initiative
This funding programme, which ran 2012-2013, was created to test new approaches to library service delivery to build vibrant, sustainable 21st century library services. Several of the projects in this programme looked at the use of digital technologies in libraries.
The library of the future
‘Envisioning the library of the future’ was a major research project undertaken by the Arts Council in 2012-13 that helped us to understand the future for libraries, and how we can enable them to develop. Our research indicates that one of the major challenges facing public libraries in the future is ensuring that library staff have effective leadership and delivery skills for a rapidly evolving service. Equally, those responsible for the strategic planning and funding of library services need to be fully aware of current good practice and the contribution that libraries can make to achieving community goals.
Libraries and loneliness
Through Arts Council England National Lottery Project Grants, libraries are at the forefront doing great work to bring people together.
Marketing the Library
With funding from Arts Council England, Libraries Connected developed and commissioned a programme aimed at harnessing libraries’ ability to deliver effective and sustained marketing campaigns.
Working Internationally
CILIP’s initiative, supported by Arts Council England, aimed to promote collaboration and partnership between libraries in England and their international counterparts.
Research and advocacy
The support from Arts Council England makes possible important and relevant research, that directly contributes to developing the sector and allows for effective advocacy for public libraries at local and national levels.
Championing archives and libraries within local planning
This guide, created in partnership with The National Archives in 2019, helps organisations working within or alongside libraries and archive services advocate for their work within the context of local authority planning.
Changing cultures: Transforming leadership in the arts, museums and libraries
This report was commissioned by Arts Council England in 2018 to better understand the current landscape of leadership in the sector and to survey the support available for leaders to address these pressing challenges.
Community libraries - Learning from experience: Guiding principles for local authorities
Published in 2013, this report explores the different ways in which communities are involved in library service delivery and management. The research, carried out in July 2012, provides a snapshot of the various ways in which communities are involved in library provision in England.
Democratising Entrepreneurship: A three year economic impact analysis of the British Library’s Business and IP Centre Network
This report showcases libraries as engines of economic growth and portrays how British Library’s Business & IP Centres have created over 12,000 new businesses between January 2016 - December 2018.
Democratising Entrepreneurship 2.0
This British Library report, published in 2023 and supported by Arts Council England, reviews the impact of Business & IP Centres between April 2020 and March 2023 and shows how BIPC services have continued to democratise entrepreneurship and support economic recovery at local, regional and national levels across the UK.
Digital Inclusion in Libraries
Good Things Foundation and Libraries Connected collaborated to research libraries’ role in digital inclusion, with support from Arts Council England. This report was published in 2023.
The digital reading habits of children
This survey, published by Booktrust in 2016 and supported by Arts Council Englnad, was designed specifically to explore young children’s use of digital media and e-books, with a particular focus on children’s reading for pleasure and shared reading with their parents at home.
Envisioning the library of the future
Envisioning the library of the future was a major research project undertaken by the Arts Council in 2012-13 that helped us to understand the future for libraries, and how we can enable them to develop.
Evidence review of the economic contribution of libraries
In a climate where local authorities face significant financial challenges, understanding the economic contribution of libraries is particularly important to the library sector. It is a complex question, and this 2014 report summarises both the evidence available on the subject, and the ways in which others have approached the question, including the advantages and potential pitfalls of the different methodologies.
Future Libraries: Imagining the future of libraries, come rain or shine
Future Libraries is a two-part initiative that challenges and engages Librarians and library leaders to reimagine libraries in a world of climate change, population shift, and digital advancement. Published in 2024 and funded by Arts Council England, Future Libraries is comprised of ‘Come rain or shine: Preparing public libraries for the future in an age of uncertainty’ and a ‘Future Libraries Toolkit’.
Guidance on seeking and securing developer contributions for library and archive provision in England
Published in 2023 in partnership with The National Archives, this report explores how libraries and archives can engage with the local planning process and officials to secure funding through Section 106 legal agreements and/or the Community Infrastructure Levy, collectively known as developer contributions. It is aimed at Heads of Service and local authority leadership teams with responsibility for the strategic planning, development and delivery of library and archive services across England.
Guidance on seeking and securing developer contributions for museum and arts provision in England
Published in 2023 in partnership with The National Archives, this report explores how museums and arts organisations can engage with the local planning process and officials to secure funding through developer contributions. It is aimed at Directors, Chief Executives and Senior Leads with responsibility for the strategic planning, development and delivery of museum and arts organisations across England.
The health and wellbeing benefits of public libraries
In 2014, Arts Council England commissioned Simetrica to conduct a study to value the health and wellbeing benefits of public libraries. This study looks at the value of the health and wellbeing benefits of library engagement measured through economic value.
Helping jobseekers help themselves
In 2022, we commissioned Shared Intelligence, Cambridge Econometrics, and Analogue Strategies to evaluate how jobseekers use libraries and the role of library services in improving employment outcomes, and provide recommendations for how libraries can maximise their jobseeker support.
Higher Education and Public Libraries: Partnerships Research
In March 2018, Arts Council England commissioned Independent Mind to conduct research to identify the capacity within public library services and higher education institutions to generate meaningful partnerships. This report sheds light on the appetite for, and nature of, partnerships, and the barriers standing in the way.
Impact and engagement toolkit: Understanding your audiences and how your services create positive change
In 2023, Suffolk Libraries worked with The Audience Agency on an Arts Council England funded research project to gain a greater understanding of its current customer base and the perceptions of non-library users.
Keeping performance live
South Western Regional Library Services CIO (SWRLS), with the support of Arts Council England, hosted a national seminar in 2019 on performing arts collections provision, Keeping Performance Live. This report documents the discussions at the event, post-event feedback and consultation and makes recommendations for suggested next steps.
Libraries accreditation: the draft scheme
Supported by Arts Council England, Libraries Connected commissioned Shared intelligence to scope a Libraries Accreditation scheme. The drat scheme was published in 2022.
Libraries as community hubs: case studies and learning
This 2017 report by Renaisi, commissioned by Arts Council England, presents findings from six case study areas of libraries in England that are co-located in community hubs. The aim was to explore different approaches and configurations; some of the opportunities and challenges that can occur for libraries through co-location with other services; and identify learning that might apply to other areas.
Libraries for living, and for Living Better
This report was commissioned, in 2023, by Libraries Connected East and supported by Arts Council England. It demonstrates the economic value and impact of libraries.
Libraries welcome everyone: Six stories of diversity and inclusion from libraries in England
In 2018, Arts Council England commissioned John Vincent, of The Network, to explore different aspects of equality and diversity provision in six library services.
Library rhyme times and maternal mental health
This 2018 project, delivered by Shared Intelligence and supported by Arts Council England, aimed to test, through a year-long action-research project with Essex Libraries, whether library-based rhyme times could be a large-scale platform for supporting maternal mental health.
Public libraries and literacy recovery
The National Literacy Trust produced this report in 2022 alongside Libraries Connected, supported by Arts Council England, that examines the role of libraries in raising the literacy skills of children whose leaning was been disrupted by the pandemic.
Rural library services in England: exploring recent changes and possible futures
Created in May 2014, this research explores what the experience has been – and could be in future – for rural libraries following the huge amount of change public library services underwent in previous years.
Stand by me: The contribution of public libraries to the well-being of older people
Shared Intelligence were commissioned in 2017 by Arts Council England to produce case studies looking at the contribution public libraries make to the wellbeing of older people.
Start-ups in London Libraries: Driving inclusive entrepreneurship across the capital
The Start-ups in London Libraries programme ran across 10 London boroughs from May 2019 - December 2021. The programme was delivered by the British Library Business & IP Centre and supported by the European Regional Development Fund and Arts Council England.
Summer Reading Challenge: Cross-authority pilot
The Reading Agency piloted a new cross-authority partnership model of the Summer Reading Challenge in 2021 in ten areas. Working through cross-local authority partnerships, the model was designed to support public libraries to broaden the reach of the Challenge; levelling up opportunity by making it accessible to more children living with disadvantage or who had not accessed the library before.