EDGE2019 Conference Programme

@edinedge #EDGE2019

DAY ONE Thursday 28^th February 2019

8.00 – 9.00    Coffee and Registration in the atrium, Radisson Blu, Royal Mile, EH1 1TH. Wi-Fi is free throughout the hotel, under Radisson Guest, no password required.

Who are we?

Chair:             Alistair Gaw, Executive Director of Communities and Families

9.00 – 9.15      Welcome and Introduction by our Vice Convener of Education, Communities and Families, Councillor Alison Dickie

9.15 – 9.30      Alistair Gaw

9.30 – 10.00 Henrik Jochumsen, Associated Professor at the Department of Information Studies, University of Copenhagen.

Henrik will concentrate on the public library in urban development. As a result of the Danish research project “Public Library in Urban Development – Creativity, Innovation and Experience” which is based on case studies in Europe and North America “the three-function model” has been born. The three-function model describes how the public libraries contributes to city and community development in three different ways: as a place, as a space and as relations. By taking his point of departure in these concepts Henrik will focus on how the library can serve as a catalyst for change and urban development, how the library can enhance a creative and innovative city and how it contributes to synergy, connections and transformations through new creative partnerships. The aim is to create a platform from where it is possible to emphasize and communicate important aspects of how the public library can be an important part of a vibrant, liveable and coherent community.

10.00 – 10.25 Leo Appleton,  PhD student, Centre for Social Informatics.

This paper will present on the findings of a longitudinal research project which looks into the value and impact of public libraries in the UK on citizenship development within the Information Society. The data informing the research has been gathered through a series of repeat focus groups which have taken place in eight different local authorities throughout the UK between 2014 and 2017. As the research draws to a close significant insight has been gained about the role of the library in the 21st century with regard to its epistemic function, its role in curating and organising print resources, the social functions of the physical library and the abstract perception of the library in delivering its citizenship mission.

10.25 – 10.35 Café Conversation

10.35 – 11.05 Refreshment Break

11.05 – 11.35 Melanie Huggins, Executive director of Richland Library in Columbia, SC, which received the 2017 National Medal for Museum and Library Service, the nation’s highest honour. 

Richland Library set out to create spaces and services that would help create a more resilient economy, attract and retain a creative class of residents, support artists and entrepreneurs and encourage greater community cohesion in our neighbourhoods. That vision Library As Studio has transformed the way we think about our role in the community, making us a vital partner and catalyst for solving community problems and creating opportunities for the community to learn, create and share together. Huggins will discuss the vision and approach that has guided the transformation of the entire library system.

11.35 – 12.00 Ilona Kish, Programme Director, Public Libraries 2030, Reading and Writing Foundation of the Netherlands

Working with Google on a digital toolkit with 10 libraries across UK & Ireland. Ilona will share the experience of the project. Ilona manages the Brussels team, their Advisory group and other strategic relationships within the Programme and is responsible for strategic guidance and management. The programme is run by the Melinda and Bill Gates Foundation. Ilona previously served as Secretary General of Culture Action Europe, a European Umbrella association promoting arts and cultural associations across Europe.

12.00 – 12.15 Café Conversation

12.15 – 1.15 Lunch in Dunedin Room

Where we are going?

Chair: Catherine Stihler, Chief Executive Officer, Open Knowledge International (OKI)

1.15 – 1.30      Catherine Stihler

1.30 – 1.55 Jesper Klein, Project Manager, National Library of Sweden.

The nowadays well-grounded principle that library services should be universally designed together with a global digital transformation of reading dramatically changes the preconditions for all types of libraries. In both mature and quickly growing ebook and audio book markets in Europe and other places like the USA and East Asia we see libraries build services that make use of open technical standards, user centric design and open source co-op to become more interoperable, and more importantly – more user friendly and with better usability. What is the libraries role in relation to commercial publishing and retail in the digital domain? And what can we do to make digital library services more inclusive to all including people with disabilities and other prioritized groups?

1.55 – 2.20 Martin Hamilton, Futurist at Joint Information’s System Committee (JISC).

Martin leads Jisc’s Future and Emerging Technologies team, generating and channelling new ideas, and building partnerships to bring them to fruition. He is particularly interested in the societalimplications of ubiquitous robotics and artificial intelligence, and humanity’s emergence as a trueinterplanetary species.

2.20 – 2.30 Café Conversation

2.30 – 3.00 Refreshment Break

3.00 – 3.30 Billy Agnew, Director of Viarama, introduced by Pamela Tulloch, Chief Executive Officer, Scottish Library and Information Council.

Arguably the most important innovation since the Smartphone. Virtual Reality not only provides a source of fun and entertainment but it has also become a platform to explore science, nature, history, geography and so much more. Places previously uninhabitable can now be explored… Go deep inside the body to a cellular level; explore the Himalayas or the Grand Canyon. Time travel back to a prehistoric age or into the yet undiscovered possibilities of the future. Billy’s talk will be about the power of virtual reality and how it can be used to benefit people in a library setting.

3.30 – 3.55 Louise Graham, Lifelong Learning Strategic Development Officer, Edinburgh City Libraries

In an era of financial constraint, demands for accountability, and complex information environments, the need to demonstrate evidence of impact of library services has never been more necessary. This session looks at some of the ways that we have addressed the constant struggle within our profession to measure, record and evidence impact: to answer the so what question. We will look at how we have used digital technology to engage with developers and stakeholders to develop a simple tool for use with library customers and we’ll introduce a new project that engages libraries with a wide range of partners to map the impact of regular services for all stakeholders.

3.55 – 4.05 Cafe Conversation

4.05 – 4.15 – Close of Day One, Paul McCloskey, Lifelong Learning Strategic Manager (Community Learning & Development and Libraries)

The Gala Dinner

7.00pm           Drinks reception, Great Scots Hall.   

7.45pm           Call to dinner in the Canongate Room.

Accompanied by The Royal High  School Fiddler Group

8.00pm           Dinner in the George Suite, hosted by David Bruce,

Senior Education Manager, Schools & Lifelong Learning, City of Edinburgh Council

The EDGE2019 Award Ceremony. Awards presented by Alistair Gaw, Executive Director of Communities & Families, City of Edinburgh Council

DAY TWO Friday 1^st March 2019

8.30 – 9.15am Arrival and coffee

This, is why we matter!

Chair:   Professor. Dr. Frank Huysmans, Professor of library science, Media Studies, University of Amsterdam

9.15 – 9.30       Frank Huysmans

Giving us a very brief overview of special programs in public libraries in the Netherlands and how their effectiveness is assessed.

9.30 – 9.55 Gemma Williams, Library Manager, HMP Norwich

For the last six years HMP Norwich library, in association with local group the Forget me Nots, has been running a weekly Cognitive Stimulation Therapy group for older prisoners living with memory loss and dementia. The project, which won the CILIP Libraries Change Lives 2017, uses an evidence based and NICE guideline recommended group therapy to provide support to a highly socially excluded and vulnerable group. Library manager Gemma will discuss the growing needs of older people in custody, the role of libraries as a dementia friendly space, working with volunteers to deliver mental health interventions and changing cultures of care in institutional settings, and will present a short film of the HMP Norwich group.

9.55 – 10.25 David Stoker, Departmental Director/Manager, Liverpool.

Liverpool Central Library & Archive underwent a major redevelopment and restoration in 2013. Visitor numbers and satisfaction have increased dramatically with an increase in use by children and teenagers and David will talk about lessons learnt and the successes of the building and its services. In particular, he will show that by adopting a very open, welcoming, flexible and risk-taking approach to working with a very wide range of partners a highly successful and popular programme of events, activities and exhibitions has been delivered on a minimal budget. This has had a snowball effect with more and more partners coming forward and additional services being delivered. The Central Library & Archive is highly rated on sites such as Trip Advisor and the library won The Bookseller’s Library of the Year Award for 2018.

10.25 – 10.35 Café Conversation

10.35 – 11.00 Refreshment Break

11.00 – 11.25 Peter Barnett, Head of Libraries, Advice, Health & Information, Coventry.

Peter oversees on the resettlement and welcome programme, for Coventry City, one of the largest refugee programmes in the UK. In his role as Head of Coventry Libraries, Peter and his library team become heavily involved with their local Syrian communities and will showcase some excellent work around inclusion not only with our refugees but also with spaces allocated in libraries for Autism.

11.25 – 12.00 Dr Jean Christophe Denis, Ogden Science Officer and Outreach Officer, Edinburgh University and Dr Kirsty Ross, Outreach Officer, University of Strathclyde.

Edinburgh Libraries are privileged to have an amazing partnership with both Universities and are working together on STEM in libraries, and achieving great results.  Our two Dr’s will explain how this partnership came about and how it has enhanced the lives of teenagers in libraries, especially the hard to reach age group. Universities in other areas also have pools of talents, gifts and gems that can be tapped into. Find out how…

 12.00 – 12.15 Close of EDGE2019 Paul McCloskey, Lifelong Learning Strategic Manager (Community Learning & Development and Libraries)

From 12.15     Lunch, The Cannongate Room