1. Diana Edmonds
Head of Libraries, Greenwich Leisure
Limited (GLL), London
Rebecca Gediking
Library Specialist, GLL

2. Taking Digital
Responsibility
Public Libraries in the 21st Century
– Action Required!
Diana Edmonds
Head of Libraries, GLL
diana.edmonds@gll.org
Rebecca Gediking
Library Specialist, GLL
Rebecca.gediking@gll.org
03 October 2013

3. GLL – A quick note
• A Charitable Social Enterprise
• Managing over 100 Leisure Centres
• Managing 2 Library services in London
– Royal Borough of Greenwich
– London Borough of Wandsworth
– (26 Library buildings)

4. The Areas we serve
Royal Borough of Greenwich and London
Borough of Wandsworth
• Customer mix includes affluent and
economically deprived
• Even those who are affluent may be digitally
deprived

5. The ICT offer - physical
GLL Libraries provide:
• ‘The Peoples’ Network’ – fixed PC’s with
broadband access to the Internet
• PLUS Printing and scanning capabilities
• In Greenwich funded by £400,000 allocation
from GLL profits

6. The ICT offer - physical
GLL Libraries provide:
• WIFI – free wireless internet access for
those with laptops, smart phones and
tablets …

7. The ICT offer – support
for digital development
• Ad hoc support plus regular classes to
encourage digital confidence
• Staff increasingly gaining teaching
qualifications, as well as library
qualifications

8. GLL Libraries are smart
Libraries
GLL Libraries are smart libraries with a range of
technology available, including:
• iPads
• An iPad table
• Sound Showers
As well as RFID self issue terminals, wands etc …
Technology rubs off on our customers

9. Our responsibility
• … is to provide libraries which are
technology hubs, making available a range
of technology products to enable our
customers to become more digitally literate
– and to have fun with technology, with other
people …

10. Library LAB
•
•
•
•
A joint venture with our suppliers
A development space
A showcase
Allowing relationships and products to be
developed
• And soon to be mobile with a Library LAB
bus

11. ICT offer - virtual
GLL also has a responsibility to reach out to those
who may not be able to visit a physical library and
to provide library services for the digital community
Our current offer:
• A 24/7 virtual library
• Library Catalogue
• A range of online resources
• Online information regarding the physical
libraries

12. Developing our ICT offer
• Increasing our online presence via Social
Media Platforms
• Digital Streaming events
• Virtual author visits
• Online book clubs

13. ICT ensures libraries are
relevant
• Visits to Woolwich Library increased by
58% in one year …
• Now on same days, we receive over 5,000
visitors