Libraries about much more than just books

Published on Monday 10 November 2008 08:59

WE deliberated for months before deciding to add another festival to Edinburgh's calendar of events. We wanted to celebrate and promote the city's libraries for the enjoyment of the public. We pondered on Edinburgh Library Week, Bibliomundo and even the Ministry of Stuff, but Edinburgh's Festival of Libraries does what it says on the tin.

The Festival runs until Friday. We have over 50 events programmed in the week at venues all over the city. It starts with the Libraries Fair at Adam House and finishes with a public debate on the "Future of the Book". There is no doubt about the quality of the experience should you choose to take part, but in choosing not to, are you shackled by the word "library"?

I went to Edinburgh Bus Station last week to conduct a straw poll. I wanted to find out what sprung to people's minds when they thought of libraries.

Many people just thought exclusively of books, and there are still views that the books are not only old, but about "old" subjects like the Ice Age and history. A significant number knew that you can access the internet, but under half mentioned other facilities and activities that libraries offer, such as classes, electronic resources, music and research advice.

I also realised that people were automatically thinking about community or school libraries, and did not consider the wide range of specialist libraries open to the public. Just under half did not use any library at all.

To mark Edinburgh's Festival of Libraries, we're challenging Evening News readers to find out more about what libraries can do for you – for free! Don't think about what book you want – instead think about what you want to know. If you want to know about times past or future plans, how to fundraise or hell-raise, how to kick-start your career or Bookstart your child's reading – you will find the answers in a library in Edinburgh, and you won't necessarily find it in a book!

&#149 Wendy Ball is Edinburgh Libraries and Information Services Agency development officer