Rethinking The Future of Libraries
Commissioned
by
YEAR
2019-2022
Euella Jackson
Elinor Lower
Leeza Awojobi
Valentina Paz Huxley
Meliza Fenlon
Jayde Ayino
Consultancy: Research, Report Writing, Events
TAGS
Young
Creatives
Abbi Bayliss
Alexa Ledecky
Sophia Harari
Phase 1: RE/IMAGINE
RE/IMAGINE was commissioned as a follow-up to a citywide council-led consultation on the future of libraries.
Offered an exploration into models of youth engagement and the potential for public spaces to become more welcoming and functional for young people aged 16–24 across the city. The pilot culminated with two events, in Junction 3 and Southmead libraries, where young people took over the space, performed, danced, ate and hung out.
A comprehensive report was produced which inspired a piece of deeper follow-on work with Junction 3 that Rising delivered in 2020-22.
Phase 2: My libary my space
Following on from RE/IMAGINE the council commissioned us to do a deeper dive into Junction 3 Library and how creativity could be used to engage young people in the Library Service.
As a result of the continued response to Covid the team weren’t able to use Junction 3 as planned as it was was closed during lockdowns and events were suspended. This meant designing a new approach to pursue more embedded and meaningful engagement.
We decided to focus on creating meaningful relationships with a smaller cohort of young people local to Junction 3. They would be ambassadors for what libraries can be like for and with young people, exploring the service through creative responses.
impact In numbers
£21,275
invested in 11 young artists and speakers
4
young artists worked on their first commission
37
community members worked on the communal poem
415
people engaged through 3 events
One of the things from the events which stuck out to me the most, was when Euella split the room into those who had been to a library in the past 3 months and those who hadn’t. The majority of the room were on the side of those who hadn’t.”
“
—Issie Tovey – Re/Imagine Participant