Making a noise about libraries

September 12, 2008

People feel strongly about libraries, and we’re no different.

Google and Wikipedia have usurped many aspects of the reference library, and fiction has been made available in supermarkets for less than the price a bottle of wine, so it’s hardly suprising that library usage is declining. But whether people use them or not, try and close one, and there’s an outcry.

However, libraries are changing.

We’ve worked with Gloucestershire and Wiltshire Library Authorities on a wide range of projects-strategies, research, income generation and new branch openings. We’ve even hooked them up with amazon via a white box solution ( painted in their corporate colours).

Gloucestershire has a 39 branch network, and David Paynter has done an excellent job of contemporising many of them ( as funding has allowed).

You’ll find:

- Plasma screens highlighting the latest DVD rentals, or showing sport on Sunday

- Music playing-everything from Handel to Hendrix

- Internet Cafe’s with free web access for all for a couple of hours

- Wii gaming areas and Playstation games to borrow

- Baby changing facilities and childrens events

- Free wireless usage for all those with a laptop or itouch

- RFID ( so staff can help customers, not just stamp books)

- The latest best-sellers, and not an old dog eared romance novel in sight

..and consequently the number of visitors to the libraries increasing dramatically

Fivve is delighted to be involved with the new Cirencester Library and be working with Wiltshire on their future development plans.