The British Library has launched the Living Knowledge Network, a nationwide partnership between the Library and 21 major libraries in cities and towns across the UK. The Network will combine local expertise and national organising power to share knowledge, resources and activities.
Funded by Arts Council England and the British Library for a two-year pilot period, the Living Knowledge Network aims to:
- Enable knowledge exchange – strengthening libraries’ collective ability to deliver world-class library services to diverse communities;
- Develop joint offerings for library users – collaborating on programmes, activities and shared content;
- Form a powerful partnership – working together on funding applications, evidence gathering and to share programmes of activity with a combined audience of 13 million.
Roly Keating, Chief Executive of the British Library said: “At the heart of the Living Knowledge Network is a simple aspiration: to create value by sharing ideas and sparking connections between libraries, collections and people across the UK. We were delighted to bring Network libraries together for our first ever meeting on September 16, where we discussed collaborative opportunities and the benefits we can realise working together.”
In January 2015, the British Library published its new strategy, Living Knowledge, which has at its heart the British Library’s mission to make its intellectual heritage available to everyone, for research, inspiration and enjoyment. The Living Knowledge Network is a new way of working in response to this ambition.
The British Library’s partners in the Living Knowledge Network are: Birmingham City Council, Bournemouth Borough Council, Edinburgh Council, Libraries Unlimited, Glasgow Life, Kirklees Council, Suffolk’s Libraries Industrial and Provident Society (IPS), Leeds City Council, Liverpool City Council, Manchester City Council, Newcastle City Council, The Preston Harris Library, National Library of Scotland, National Library of Wales, First for Wellbeing, Norfolk County Council, Northern Ireland Library Authorities, Portsmouth City Council, Reading Borough Council, Sheffield City Council, Wakefield Council, Middlesbrough Council and Hull City Council.