Chris's Blog

Making a noise about libraries

People feel strongly about libraries, and we're no different.

Google and Wikipedia have usurped many aspects of the reference library, and fiction has been made available in supermarkets for less than the price a bottle of wine, so it's hardly suprising that library usage is declining. But whether people use them or not, try and close one, and there's an outcry.

However, libraries are changing.

We've worked with Gloucestershire and Wiltshire Library Authorities  on a wide range of projects-strategies, research, income generation and new branch openings. We've even hooked them up with amazon via a white box solution (  painted in their corporate colours).

Gloucestershire has a 39 branch network, and David Paynter has done an excellent job of contemporising many of them ( as funding has allowed).

Visit Bishops Cleeve, Dursley, Longlevens or the new library soon to be opened in Cirencester, and you'll see how dusty, dowdy and quiet libraries have been brought into today, with lots of colour, noise, activity and new content and media formats.

You'll find:

- Plasma screens highlighting the latest DVD rentals, or showing sport on Sunday

- Music playing-everything from Handel to Hendrix

- Internet Cafe's with free web access for all for a couple of hours

- Wii gaming areas and Playstation games to borrow

- Baby changing facilities and childrens events

- Free wireless usage for all those with a laptop or itouch

- RFID ( so staff can help customers, not just stamp books)

- The latest best-sellers, and not an old dog eared romance novel in sight

..and consequently the number of visitors to the libraries increasing dramatically

Head First is delighted to be involved with the new Cirencester Library opening this autumn, and be working with Wiltshire on their development plans for 2009 and beyond.

 

 

The new Dursley Library, Glos.

Distinctive branding for Gloucestershire Libraries

Click here for all our news stories
Click here to see all posts and links
Head First Marketing & Public Relations, Gloucestershire.

Passport to the Past

Head First is proud to be providing marketing consultancy to support the launch of the new £1.3 million Wiltshire and Swindon Heritage Centre in Chippenham.

The county, with a history that pre-dates the Romans, now houses its vast archives and unique content in this new 'state of the art' centre whose floor area equates to five football pitches. Construction was completed under budget and on-time.

It provides the public with the opportunity to discover, participate and contribute to Wiltshire's heritage, at the centre, and on-line.

Read all about it on Wiki- click here.