EDGE2024 highlights and rewards good practice in innovative library and information projects which:
- Show or sell benefits of library and information services to other sectors, organisations and communities
- Demonstrate innovation and creativity
- Increase participation
- An authority may wish to enter all 3 categories, that’s great.
- An authority may find their application could fit in one, two or three categories, it is fine to enter the same application in other categories.
The purpose of the awards is to recognise positive achievements and promote outstanding library-based initiatives which celebrate the value of libraries. The awards are free to enter.
Our judges are from an external source and each judge receives one category only and chooses the Finalist and the Winner of that category.
There will be three awards. The winners in each category will receive the EDGE2024 trophy (no financial reward) which will follow the format of the conference.
We don’t want the process to be cumbersome, so we are asking for some brief details.
We are looking for cutting-edge innovative projects around developments in the following categories:
Physical Category
1. Physical – buildings, layout, targeted spaces
Social Category
2. Social – Work involving communities or target groups, engagement or making a difference
Digital Category
3. Digital – Websites, apps, virtual library, digitisation
The awards are open to global applications.
Finalists in each category will receive: –
1 x Complimentary 2 Day & Award dinner delegate package (normally £350) – accommodation is NOT included in this package.
The option to book 1 or more Full delegate package (2-day conference, awards dinner, overnight accommodation) at a discounted rate of £300 (normally £395), invoiced in advance.
CLOSING DATE 12 NOON – FRIDAY 16TH FEBRUARY 2024
If you have difficulty accessing the online form, I will accept your application in word format emailed directly to me using the same Awards guidelines as per the website.
grainne.crawford@edinburgh.gov.uk
Finalists will be announced 23rd February 2024 complimentary & discounted places must be booked by 8th March 2024.
1) Be honest about what you are good at and how you can demonstrate this to the judges.
2) Remember that you must prove to the judges that you are the best organisation that entered the particular award or category in order to win.
3) To impress the judges your entry must stand out. Talk is cheap, the judges will want to see proof of any claims you make about being the best, offering great service, value for money, being innovative etc, so be sure to provide that proof.
4) The world is full of great ideas that sound good but didn’t work or make any money in reality. You must demonstrate that your idea or service has a market, that there is a demand from that market and that it is sustainable.
5) Write in plain English and keep it simple.
EDGE2023 WINNERS
MANY CONGRATULATIONS
Physical Category
Bannockburn Library and Makerspace – Stirling Libraries
Social Category
Ukrainian Refugee Support – Aberdeen Libraries
Digital Category
Library Lab Prototypes – Libraries Hacked
Our judges for EDGE2023 were:-
Mark Freeman – Physical Category
Sean McNamara – Digital Category
Evelyn Kilmurry – Social Category
Our judges are leaders in their field of expertise and taking an active part in EDGE2023.
Winners of EDGE2020 Awards
Physical Section
Community Hub Development Programme – Leeds Libraries
Social Section
Explore Labs – York Libraries & Archives
Digital Section
100% Digital Tablet Lending Scheme – Leeds Libraries
Winners for EDGE2019
Winner Physical category – Norwood Library & Picturehouse
Winner Social category – – Redbridge Libraries with The Final Party
Winner Digital category – Live Life, Aberdeenshire
Winners for EDGE2018
Winner Physical category – Redbridge Central Library with Transformation Project
Winner Social Category – Glasgow Life with Financial Capability Project
Winner Digital Category – South Lanarkshire Libraries with ActiveE
Winners for EDGE2017
Physical award winner is :-
Library at Kelvin Hall: National library of Scotland
Social Award winner is :-
Digi-PALS, Glasgow Life
Digital Award winner is :-
Digi Dabble, North Ayrshire
WINNERS for EDGE2016 awards….
Physical Category
Barrhead Foundry Library & Sports Centre Intregration Project from East Renfrewshire Culture & Leisure Ltd.
Social Category
Stradbroke Library Post Office from Suffolk’s Libraries Industrial & Provident Society (Suffolk Libraries).
Many congratulations to our winners.
Many congratulations to our runners up.
The Stromness Library and The Friends of Broughty Ferry.
Winners EDGE2015
From all the EDGE Team and our wonderful judges …
Many congratulations to our winners.
The Physical Category
Manchester City Libraries – Central Library Transformation Project
The Social Category
Macmillan @ Glasgow Libraries – Volunteering Programme
The Digital Category
Manchester Central Library – Archives+
EDGE2014 Winners
The Physical Category
Macmillan @ Glasgow Libraries
The Social Category
Dementia Awareness for Children, Stockton Library
The Digital/Virtual Category
Get Connected with Suffolk Libraries
EDGE2013 Winners
The Physical Category, sponsored by The Design Concept:
London Borough of Southwark –
Canada Water Library
The Social Category, sponsored by Capita
Northamptonshire Libraries –
Enterprise Hubs
The Virtual/Digital Category, Sponsored by BT Scotland
The Publishers Association and The Reading Agency –
Reading Partners Digital Skills Sharing Project
The free and discounted places associated with the finalists in each category are NON Transferable and only apply to the year of the awards in which they are offered.
