Wednesday, February 1st, 2012Smartphone users up and down the country are being encouraged to celebrate UK public libraries by ‘putting their library on the map’ this weekend.
‘Put Your Library on the Map’ is a campaign led by the Collections Trust, with the support of the Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals (CILIP) and the Society of Chief Librarians (SCL) to encourage people to show their support for their local libraries, and to find out about the exciting range of services they offer.
Using the cross-platform ‘Find a Library’ app www.findalibrary.org.uk, people go to their local library with their mobile, click ‘Use my Location’, select their library and then ‘Put Library on the Map’. This will ensure that their library is included in the national database of public libraries, which is freely available to all Internet users and includes information provided by the BBC and the national UK Online initiative.
Speaking about the initiative, Culture Minister Ed Vaizey MP said, “This campaign is a great way to encourage people to make use of their public library services. Libraries provide invaluable opportunities for literacy and learning and I really hope that people get behind this campaign and put their local library on the map. I will certainly be doing so for my local library.”
‘Find a Library’ includes basic information for 4,300 libraries in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
On Saturday 4 February libraries across the UK will be celebrating National Libraries Day with a range of events for library users and supporters to enjoy.
The day is a celebration of the work done in school, college, university, workplace and public libraries to promote learning, literacy and the enjoyment of reading to all. It is supported by a range of twenty-five organisations including the Chartered Institute of Library & Information Professionals, the Reading Agency, the National Federation of Women’s Institutes, library campaigners and publishers.
Library users new and old are being encouraged to go along to their local library and find out about the great services on offer – from book loans and homework clubs to advice on starting a business and how to get online. Regular users are being asked to bring a friend and give them the chance to speak to library staff and find out exactly what services are available locally.
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Press contact
To arrange an interview with Nick Poole, Collections Trust CEO, please contact Katie Smith on 0207 942 6080 or by email at katies@collectionstrust.org.uk
Notes to Editors
‘Put Your Library on the Map’ is led by the Collections Trust, with support from library organisations including the Society of Chief Librarians and the Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals (CILIP).
‘Find a Library’ is a website optimised for smartphones, which allows users to find libraries by location. It is free to use, and the information is kept up-to-date by UK librarians. It can be accessed online at http://www.findalibrary.org.uk.
The Collections Trust helps make museums, archives and libraries more accessible for the public to use and enjoy. We have developed online apps and websites which open up the richness of UK collections. For further information, visit http://www.collectionstrust.org.uk.
