Brian Gambles is Director of the Library of Birmingham and Chief Executive of the LoB Development Trust. Brian's presentation provided an introduction to the Library of Birmingham, it's facilities, collections and services

1. Future City, Future Library

2. Birmingham
 Birthplace of the Industrial Revolution
 The ‘city of a thousand trades’

3. Birmingham - People
 1 million citizens (city-region 5.3m)
 33%+ from ethnic minority communities
 50 languages spoken in the city
 Europe’s second most diverse city – (Amsterdam)
 37% under 25 – ‘the youngest city in Europe’
 The future face of European Cities

4. But ...UK city hardest hit by social impact of
Recession
• Way above average indicators of
deprivation, especially…
– unemployment (young people,
long term, concentrated)
• Skills and qualifications deficit
• High levels of functional illiteracy
(20%+ adults)
• Poor health outcomes
• Poor graduate retention
• Challenging image domestically

5. A city that needs…
• Confidence in its learning and
cultural status
• A better image (and self-image)
home and abroad
• Improved skills for
employability for young people
• Sustained community cohesion
• Healthier citizens
• Engaged citizens
• Enhanced skills: literacy,
numeracy and digital

6. A library that will deliver…
• Social capital and community
engagement
• Social, economic and health
outcomes
• A visitor destination
• Creativity and innovation
• Inspiration
• Grounded in
– Partnership working
– A clear digital strategy
– A more business-like approach
– A transformed service offer

7. What is the future library?
• Library
• Archive
• Visitor Attraction
• Event Space
• Corporate Venue
• Social meeting
place
• Business meeting
place

9. What is a library in the 21st
century?
• A knowledge hub…a social
learning hub…a cultural
exchange…an empowerment
centre
• A new partnership – a new social
contract - with business,
colleges, universities, voluntary
sector, creative industries,
cultural and arts organisations,
writers, performers, schools the
community…
• Connecting people to people,
people to ideas, ideas to
ideas…co-producing services
and events

10. • Social Capital

11. “I think when I look back at the @LibraryofBham
opening, the thing I'll remember is how happy
everyone seems today”

14. Library of Birmingham - Success
14

15. The Public Library
• Public Realm
• Inclusive
• Learning Journey

16. • Event rich
• Co-production environment
• Experiential learning

17. Children in Need

19. HEALTH
HERITAGE
BUSINESS
CHILDREN
READING
LEARNING

20. 20

21. 21

22. 22
The basis for partnership
Partnerships
Co-
production
Engagement
Access
Enrichment
Collaboration
Innovation

23. Digital Customer Experience -
New ways of engaging with
customers based on mobile
apps, interactive content and
digital partnerships.
Collection,
Digitisation &
Interpretation of
Content
Physical
Archives
What we did… Customer Experience
Google Cultural Institute 23

24. Website, LMS,
Digital Asset
Management
system
Digital Content
Delivery: Web,
Mobile & In-
Building
Multi-screen digital
galleries, feature
interactive devices
and Marketing &
Events screens
What we did… Technology
24

25. Games:
Foto Fortunes
People’s Archive
Information Overlord
Virtual Library in
Second Life
Apps:
Dozens and Trails
What we did… Technology
25

26. 26
http://www.connectinghistories.org.uk/
http://www.suburbanbirmingham.org.uk/
http://www.connectinghistories.org.uk/childre
nshomes.asp
http://www.connectinghistories.org.uk/birmin
ghamstories/about.asp
http://www.connectinghistories.org.uk/childrens
lives/

27. 27
Enhanced metadata services

28. Before
Original Filename
wk-a1-104
Title
A 19lb pike caught in Fox Hollies Pool, Acocks Green,
Birmingham
Caption
Published in the Birmingham Post, 18 December 1972.

29. Original Filename Title
wk-a1-104.jpg A 19lb pike caught in Fox Hollies Pool, Acocks Green
Description
Portrait of a man with a pike. Published in the Birmingham Post, 18 December 1972.
wk-a1-104
Building/Street District/Suburb City County
Country
Fox Hollies Pool Acocks Green Birmingham West Midlands
England
Type of Building Categories People Date
Home Animals, Sport Adult, Eldery, Men1972
This picture looks This picture shows
Happy Leisure, Pride
Keywords
vertical, indoors, day, photography, black and white image, one
person, man, house, home, residence, room, kitchen, 20th
century, C20th, 1972, 1970s, holding, fish, pike, fishing, food,
leisure time, activities, sport, standing, holding, wearing,
spectacles, Fox Hollies Pool
After

30. Community Heritage and Multicultural Engagement:
Reflecting and Representing the Histories and Identities of
Diverse Groups comprising a Multicultural City and Society
Library – Community - Partners

31. 31
Voices of War

32. brian.gambles@birmingham.gov.uk