EDGE2020 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 for innovation. The winners in each category will receive the EDGE2020 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 2 day and Awards dinner delegate places for EDGE2020 (worth £350)

1 x discounted 2 day Awards dinner delegate place for EDGE2020 (£250)

CLOSING DATE 27TH JANUARY 2020

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 10th February 2020, complimentary & discounted places must be booked by 14th February 2020.

Your Name (required)

Your Email (required)

Authority (required)

Contact details (required)

Category - Please select one (required)

Project / Work name (required)

Summary (200 words) (required)

How we have been innovative max 100 words per question (4 questions)

Whose idea was it? (required)

How is this work unique or different from mainstream library and information services?* (required)

What problem does it address? (required)

What audience are you targeting? (required)

Benefits max 100 words per question (3 questions)

What performance improvement have you recorded (required)

What benefits have your customers enjoyed? (required)

How have your staff taken to it? (required)

Why we should win! Max 100 words per question (3 questions)

Why does your team deserve this award? (required)

What would an award for this mean to your organisation? (required)

What proof do you have? (required)

Please leave this field empty.

By using this form you agree with our policies.

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.

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