Douglas White, Head of Advocacy, Carnegie UK Trust

1. Advocating for Libraries

2. 100 years focus on
“Wellbeing”

3. 600+ libraries in UK and Ireland

4. Library legacy
Central libraries for students
Rural library service
Professional librarianship course
Specialist schemes for blind,
seafarers, sailors

5. • Knowledge
• Information
• Learning
• Reading
• Employment
• Health
• Community
• Digital inclusion
• Social connections
• Civic engagement
• Culture
• Creativity
• Safe space
SOCIAL
ENVIRONMENTAL
ECONOMIC
Libraries
Libraries and wellbeing

6. Advocating for libraries
Targeted
Evidence-
based
Publicly
Engaged
Creative Collaborative
Action-
driven
Adaptable Persistent

7. We need a clear goal and message –
to know what we are aiming for

8. The need for persuasive
evidence – data

9. of people use the library
of library users use the library at least once
every month
of people say libraries important to the
community
of people say libraries important to them
personally
Data can help us to highlight our
strengths…….and sharpen
our focus

10. Data can also help us to challenge
assumptions
Library use by
age in 2016
(%) England Ireland N. Ireland Scotland Wales
All 46 50 43 50 46
15-24 years 51 62 45 48 51
25-34 years 46 55 45 58 52
35-54 years 47 49 53 55 49
55+ years 43 41 32 43 41
Base: All
respondents
1,341 1,011 1,013 1,000 1,011

11. The importance of storytelling

12. The voice of the people is vital

13. The power of public advocacy

14. We should be creative in how we
communicate our messages

15. We need to build coalitions

16. Advocacy through action

17. Advocacy through innovation –
identify new opportunities
while staying true to our values

18. Persist!
“First they ignore you, then they
laugh at you, then they fight
you, then you win.”
Mahatma Gandhi

19. Thank you