EDGE2019 Conference Programme
@edinedge #EDGE2019
DAY ONE Thursday 28th 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 TBC
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, Public Libraries 2030, Brussels, Belgium
Working with Google on a digital toolkit with 10 libraries across UK & Ireland. Ilona will share the experience of the project and reflect on how libraries can work on innovative and challenging projects. Ilona is the director of PL2030 which seeks to connect innovative library initiatives across Europe. 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, Digital Library Developer, Senior Consultant Crio Partner, President DAISY Consortium.
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 Jisc.
What would you do if your world was on fire? In this talk Martin will look at mega trends from climate change to the rise of populism, and consider how libraries and information professionals can respond to them. Martin leads the future and emerging technologies team for Jisc, operators of the Janet network. His role is all about generating and channelling new ideas and building partnerships to bring them to fruition. He is particularly interested in the societal implications of ubiquitous robotics and artificial intelligence, and humanity’s emergence as a true interplanetary 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 Hazel Hall, Professor of Social Informatics, Edinburgh Napier University
Giving delegates a quick update on the new RIVAL networking programme starting in 2019.
4.15 – 4.20 – Close of Day One by 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 1st March 2019
8.30 – 9.00am Arrival and coffee
This, is why we matter!
Chair: Professor. Dr. Frank Huysmans, Professor of library science, Media Studies, University of Amsterdam
9.00 – 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 The National Institute for Health & Care Excellence (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 will be presenting on Coventry Libraries Welcoming Refugees. Coventry libraries are an essential part of the City’s response to the current refugee crisis. Libraries provide a place of welcome and a safe space for newly arrived communities. Those refugees resettled in Coventry engage in many activities in libraries including learning about the City and the agencies that we work with, conversational English classes and support with basic IT skills. Additionally, of course, libraries provide an important resource for refugee families to develop their reading skills with access to library stock, including dual language titles, easy reads and – later in their integration journey – support for the Life in the UK test. The presentation will also reference as a case study the Picture Book Project 2018. This project which engaged with young people resettled to the City to hear about their experiences and stories which have been lovingly transformed into a series of picture books including the children’s own illustrations of their work.
11.25 – 11.45 Dr Jean Christophe Denis, NBIC and 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 the University of Edinburgh and the University of Strathclyde, and we are working together on enhancing STEM in libraries to achieve some fantastic results. Our two Drs will explain how this partnership came about, how it has enhanced the lives of visitors to our libraries, especially the hard to reach age group, and how you might be able to tap into the potential of your local Universities. There may even be practical suggestions on how to pay for it…
11.45 – 12.00 Café Conversation
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
