A ‘human library’ and an indoor soft play facility around children’s literature are just some of the initiatives to receive money from the Libraries Opportunities for Everyone Innovation fund.
The Department for Culture, Media and Sport and Arts Council England have announced that 30 local authorities’ libraries will share £3.9m to deliver projects that reduce social isolation and digital exclusion.
The fund is designed to support innovation in public libraries and deliver new opportunities for disadvantaged communities.
Darren Henley, chief executive at Arts Council England, said: ‘This programme has provided us with a fantastic opportunity to fund new activities in libraries and reach people all over the country who might not usually use their local library service.
‘We had a phenomenal response to the fund when it opened, there is a huge appetite for funding like this, and I’m looking forward to seeing these innovative projects come to life and make a real difference to everyone involved.’
The full list of successful applications can be found here.
