Digital Spaces
Digital Spaces is an ambitious new programme, designed to transform the way communities interact with digital creativity.
The initiative will deliver an array of digital experiences in libraries, including inspiring VR showcases, immersive filmmaking community masterclasses and funding opportunities for creating new digital content.
We are collaborating with nine library services — Bradford, Cambridgeshire, Coventry, Leeds, Manchester, Newham, Nottinghamshire, Somerset, and Sunderland — to establish a new Libraries Digital Network. The network is designed to empower local communities and support library staff with comprehensive training to guide users through exciting digital journeys.
Find out moreCoventry Libraries
Soothing Sounds of the City
Coventry Libraries installed interactive audio experiences, using soundscapes of the city, like birdsong and the hustle and bustle of local markets to create a calming and creative environment. The project includes a web app to create and share soundscapes, interactive installations, and an online hub for immersive binaural audio experiences available in libraries.
Leeds Libraries
The Speaking Garden
Exploring the transformative, enriching and sometimes radical power of gardening. Leeds Central Library included a multimedia installation revealing how gardening can bring people together, empower communities and shape our relationship with the natural world. The Speaking Garden was inspired by the British Library’s Unearthed exhibition, Leeds Libraries’ special collections, and the gardeners and growers of Leeds. Created by Buffalo Sound Design and Leeds Libraries, this installation offered visitors a peaceful space for reflection.
Inspire Nottinghamshire
Leaf Number Three
The team from Inspire Nottinghamshire Libraries hosted a number of drawing workshops imagining the life of an Oak tree in Sherwood Forest. Working with My Pockets and Neon8 they created a new virtual reality film inspired by drawings by groups. The film explores the ideas of being together but separate, the same but different using the motif of leaves on a tree with audio of a poem telling the story.
Newham Libraries
Threads of Home is a Virtual Reality experience from Newham Libraries that brings the rich cultural heritage of South Asian communities in the borough to life through storytelling. Made with local communities and London College of Fashion students, the VR 360 film is narrated by actor and voiceover artist Shobna Gulati and written by Newham writer Sharmila Chauhan. Inspired by creative workshops led by artist Isher Dhiman, it takes viewers on a sensory journey through stories, sounds, and visuals of home, celebrating family traditions, memory, and cultural connection.
The experience toured Newham Libraries as part of the Festival of Stories, alongside curated books and resources celebrating South Asian culture, creativity, and storytelling.
Bradford Libraries
Manchester Libraries
The Marcus Rashford wall of hope: educational resource
- an introductory film presented by journalist and author Carl Anka
- audio recordings made with people from Withington
- activity worksheets for teachers to use in class
Somerset Libraries
Culture House Sunderland
The team at Culture House Sunderland are developing Timepiece, an AV installation to be exhibited digitally on screens in the new venue’s atrium space. Commissioned artists are incorporating historic imagery and audio recordings of the city of Sunderland to create a work that serves as both a practical clock and a poetic reminder of our place in Sunderland’s past, present and future.
Timepiece will act as an anchor for audiences in a new digitally-innovative building, creating familiarity and evoking a sense of belonging and memory when Culture House opens later this year.
Experience VR – at a library near you!
Have you tried VR before? Here’s your chance.
Thanks to support from the BFI, we’ve collated a rich collection of VR titles designed to captivate – there’s something for everyone, including:
Wallace & Gromit in the Grand Getaway: Join this new immersive adventure with much-loved animation characters Wallace and Gromit.
The Philharmonia’s Lark Ascending: A spellbinding 360 performance by Philharmonia of Vaughan Williams’s beloved piece, featuring Nicola Benedetti.
Monoliths: Explore England’s northern landscape through the voices of three women.
PhaseSpace: Relax your body and calm your mind effortlessly, with Calm, a new VR experience from Phase Space.
1943 Berlin Blitz 360: Step into the shoes of BBC war correspondent Wynford Vaughan-Thomas as he boards a Lancaster bomber in 1943 and takes you on a dangerous journey to Nazi-occupied Europe.
David Attenborough’s ‘Conquest of the Skies’ – go on an incredible journey through the evolution of flight in this captivating VR 180 docuseries.
Laika – inspired by the iconic graphic novel by Nick Abadzis, brings to life the groundbreaking true story of Earth’s first space traveler with stunning CG animation. Directed by the BAFTA and Academy Award-winning Asif Kapadia.
Useful resources for libraries
Contracting digital projects
The Space teamed up with LibraryOn for this webinar about contracting for digital projects in libraries. Particularly focused on contracting with one or more partner, funder or supplier. We discuss best practice, outline the steps to go through, and talk to some libraries services who have been through the process.
Creating digital spaces in libraries
Over the last year, 9 library services seized a unique opportunity to create and share digital experiences with their users via the programme. This webinar is a celebration of their digital creativity and what’s possible when the tools for expression and participation are shared across a network.
Practical steps for tackling online abuse
In this session, LibraryOn has teamed up with The Space, to offer ways to help library staff avoid – or manage – online abuse. We also share strategies for managing the impact if it does happen.
A visit to Darlington Library’s ‘The Hive’
In this session we visit Darlington Library’s new award-winning digital space ‘The Hive.’ We join library staff, Simon Moore and Suzy Hill, to see how The Hive has transformed their service, and find out how the team are sharing digital resources and activities with their community.
Making the most of Instagram
This session discusses how library services can make the most of Instagram. Specifically, how to make use of the different features including the grid, stories and reels; and what helps to generate engagement on the platform. The speaker, library comms expert Ned Potter, shares his practical tips and insights.
Tips and tricks for simple, effective social media content
This session is a quick guide to help you manage social media for your library service, with an emphasis on maximising your efficiency and the effectiveness of your content. The speaker, Adam Koszary of ‘absolute unit‘ fame, covers a variety of topics from creating a tone of voice to managing your time well.
Reaching audiences online
This session delves into strategies for identifying, reaching, and engaging with your target audience online. Topics covered include audience identification, developing a robust marketing strategy, and methods for maintaining audience engagement and retention.
Commissioning Digital Content
This session explores various types of digital content that library services and cultural organisations can delve into, including articles, videos, and social media engagement. We present case studies to illustrate different formats and resource requirements, providing tangible ideas and insights to fuel your creativity.
Empowering creativity and innovation
This session offers an insightful overview of Studio12’s innovative approach to fostering creativity and innovation within the Leeds Library Service. Via real life case studies and project examples, Jamie Hutchison explores Studio12’s approach to engaging diverse audiences and envisioning future projects.
Funding for digital projects
In this session we explore the essential aspects of securing funding for your digital projects. Topics covered include an overview of ACE project grants, key components of writing a strong funding application, and insights into what funding assessors are looking for.
Digital Spaces Pilot – Overview and Impact
Digital Spaces was an innovative, immersive digital cultural content programme led by Coventry Library Services in partnership with The Space. The programme explored the potential for public libraries to act as venues where people can access digital cultural content.
We’ve pulled together our learnings from Phase 1 of the programme, and present them here as an overview and a series of guides for libraries and other place-based arts organisations who want to connect communities with digital culture and creativity.
Explore the programme elements and outcomes.
