Libraries can play an important role in promoting economic prosperity by acting as catalysts in their communities. The workshop identified ways that libraries can partner with local organizations to help residents build skills and find jobs. Libraries offer welcoming spaces, digital resources, and information specialists who can connect customers to partners addressing issues like unemployment, literacy, and small business support. Measuring the economic impact of these partnerships through customer journeys and statistics helps demonstrate libraries' value and attract continued strategic support.

1. Prosperity Catalysts:
Libraries making an impact
on the economic agenda
Barbara Leigh – Principal Librarian
Carl Dorney – Central Library Manager

2. ...more prosperous
county

3. Workshop Outcomes
• Why prosperity matters to a catalyst council and
how Libraries are relevant
• How Libraries can be catalysts
• How to identify and connect with potential
partners to attract their active collaboration with
Libraries
• How to shape and communicate the Library
economic offer
• Ways of measuring and demonstrating impact

4. “... a substance that speeds up a chemical reaction,
but is not consumed by a reaction ...”
•Welcoming
•Weekend-rich opening hours
•Countywide locations
•Community hubs
•Constant & trusted
•Safe & neutral
•Universal appeal
•Wide customer base
•Information specialists
•Knowledge surround
•Customer Insight
•Digital signage / Wifi
•Free E-Friday

5. Mapping the opportunities
•Political
•Strategic
•Delivery Partners
•Catalyst

6. Mapping the opportunities
Library
Service
STRATEGIC POLITICAL
DELIVERY
PARTNERS
CATALYST
Elected Members
Cabinet Member
Districts/Boroughs/County
Officers
Economic Regeneration Officers
Director Assistant Director
Chief Executive
Local Enterprise Partnership (NEP)
University
Worklessness Steering Group/Forum
Community Customer to customer
Volunteers (e.g. IT Buddies) Social Capital
Time Bank Local Businesses
Social Enterprise (University) Impact Stories
Sustainability Library Advisory Group
Donations/Bequests Conversation Cafes (BME)
Literacy/Numeracy Groups
Volunteers into paid work Hatcheries
University Colleges
Credit Unions JCP Connexions
Debt Advice CAB Children’s Centres
Community Legal Service Housing Associations
National Careers Service Providers:
Enterprise Solutions Options 2
Northampton Evolve your Future
Rachel Mallows Company
Institute of Chartered
Accountants New Ark Foundation BME
HMRC Local Businesses Business Ambassadors
(Pro Bono)

7. Meet the partners...

8. Learning points
• Why prosperity matters
• How Libraries can be catalysts
• Identifying the Library offer
• Mapping the opportunities
• Identifying the key partners

9. Customer Journey
• Customer wants a job and needs to build
confidence
• Borrows from the Change! Collection and
volunteers to gain experience
• Connects with the community
• Achieves employment goal
• Supports library through donation

10. New York

11. Mapping the opportunities
Library
Service
STRATEGIC POLITICAL
DELIVERY
PARTNERS
CATALYST
Elected Members
Cabinet Member
Districts/Boroughs/County
Officers
Economic Regeneration Officers
Director Assistant Director
Chief Executive
Local Enterprise Partnership (NEP)
University
Worklessness Steering Group/Forum
Community Customer to customer
Volunteers (e.g. IT Buddies) Social Capital
Time Bank Local Businesses
Social Enterprise (University) Impact Stories
Sustainability Library Advisory Group
Donations/Bequests Conversation Cafes (BME)
Literacy/Numeracy Groups
Volunteers into paid work Hatcheries
University Colleges
Credit Unions JCP Connexions
Debt Advice CAB Children’s Centres
Community Legal Service Housing Associations
National Careers Service Providers:
Enterprise Solutions Options 2
Northampton Evolve your Future
Rachel Mallows Company
Institute of Chartered
Accountants New Ark Foundation BME
HMRC Local Businesses Business Ambassadors
(Pro Bono)

12. Our Enterprise Hub Offer
• Face to face support
– Signposting
– Regular drop-in sessions
– Bookable one to ones
• Programme of Workshops
– Is it for me?
– HMRC – Tax for the Self Employed
– Writing your business plan
– Social media for business development
– Social Enterprise

13. Our Enterprise Hub Offer
• Online Resources
– COBRA
– KOMPASS
– E-bulletin
– Social media
– Digital Signage
• Networking Opportunities
– Launch Event
– Job Club Xtra
– Networking Events

15. • Standard monitoring
• Statistics
• Customer Journeys as “Impact Stories”
– Change zone
– Volunteering
– Enterprise
– Employment
Impact

16. Customer stories...

17. Learning points
• Northamptonshire Libraries’ journey
• How to get buy-in
• How to promote the offer
• The importance of measuring impact

18. What next...?