Eye on the future

With an eye on the future Edinburgh’s libraries are are ready to underpin the Scottish Government’s plans for Scotland’s Digital Future

Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon announced “It will also change the way that we live – from the way we book holidays to the way we access health care.  We are committed to ensuring that all of Scotland is able to reap the social and cultural benefits of the internet.

“Broadband, just like roads and railways, is a vital part of Scotland’s infrastructure, and that is why we are committed to delivering a world class digital infrastructure to the people of Scotland by 2020.”

Chris van der Kuyl, Chief Executive of Dundee-based online publishing company Brightsolid, said:

“ A digital Scotland to me is a concept that has to be central to our future. As a small country with huge intellectual capacity, digital media and digital  technology have to be right at the core of everything we do going forward.”

Edinburgh’s libraries can support everyone with the information, skills, access to content and opportunities to get on board and benefit from Scotland’s bright future

The power of social: improving performance through collaboration

The power of social media is incredible ! It’s not just a fad or something for the future it is part and parcel of daily life for our audiences. Our customers and potential customers have a need to connect with other people to share feelings, thoughts, and ideas. Now social media allows us  to collaborate with them all, to create and maintain  relationships electronically and at the same time build networks and trust

Promotion and marketing is an essential now for libraries and information  services as much as any other business and as we compete more and more for peopl’s time.

By using Facebook , Twitter, YouTube, RSS feeds, Flickr  and  Tales of One City    Social Media, we have competed and undoubtedly grown our business. The cost to enter and participate in the social space is negligible but needs skill and time.

In comparison with traditional forms of marketing, such as print, broadcast and online advertising, the cost to market our services and brand in social media has been very very low.

Building our libraries and information services brand like  has never been so important as today and Social Media allows us to have a voice without a huge budget! It has also brought us visits, friends, partners and issues.

Connecting with communities

Information is power !

Communities, Library staff and partner organisations require up to date information to provide support to users of our Community Connections points and Health Information Hubs in libraries.  The Your Edinburgh portal provides that information in the library and from home.  Information is collected direct from local community groups and individuals to ensure that information is current and accurate.

Finding ways to improve the way we connect these new social media and technologies to the communities they serve will be the next big challenge for libraries in the 21st century. Our key role will be to continue to promote greater social equity and to reduce the chance of a digital divide but it will be even more important to develop exciting content that will hook or attract those who do not see the need to use the internet.

Development of these “virtual” resources has encouraged visits and uptake of traditional services and book borrowing performance has improved in both visits, issues.