Libraries strike the right chord?
abevan November 16th, 2009
The UK’s Museums, Libraries and Archives Council has sponsored a step-by-step guide to staging live music events for young people in public libraries.
The Get It Loud In Libraries (GILIL) toolkit, was produced by Lancashire Libraries. The aim has been to encourage young people into libraries who may have lost the library habit, or never had it to begin with and re-set their perceptions about what libraries do and what they stand for.
Stewart Parsons, author of the toolkit, said: “Get It Loud In Libraries offers young people a route back into libraries that is naturally cool and identifiable but also one that entertains, allows a clear undertow of youth involvement and opportunity, and achieves positive publicity for libraries as a modern brand.”
It is claimed that, over the last four years, GILIL has welcomed over 3,500 new users through library doors by featuring some of the best new music talent, including recent Mercury Music Prize winner Speech Debelle, Florence and the Machine, Adele, the Wombats and Mr. Hudson.
The toolkit covers every aspect of staging a show from identifying a venue and finding artists, to getting volunteers involved, marketing and health and safety.