Pyle Library To Offer Creative Courses Such As Film Making And Music Production

Pyle Library has secured a share of £60,000 to offer short courses in creative subjects to young people living in the local area. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The funding from the Carnegie UK Trust will help pay for the “Art In-formation” project which will introduce teenagers to topics such as film making, computer-aided design and 3D printing, prop making, drumming and music production. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The short courses will be held at Pyle Life Centre and aim to help improve young people’s health and wellbeing and expand their skills base. The library will offer a safe space for learning and creativity. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Harriet Hopkins, Manager of Pyle Library will lead the project and as a Carnegie UK Trust’s Library Lab Partner will also have access to a new online learning programme first developed by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Harriet has been assigned a mentor, Matt Little, Co-founder of Real Ideas Organisation, and will be given the opportunity to take part in networking and learning events with her five fellow Library Lab Partners from libraries across the UK. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Harriet said: “I feel so privileged to have been selected as a Library Lab Partner. The opportunity to network and share ideas with others who are equally as passionate about their library services is already proving beneficial, and I’m really excited about the project we have planned for Pyle. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“Lots of teenagers believe that libraries do not offer them anything they can’t already access on their mobile, tablet or computer, which of course isn’t true. Through a programme of short courses, in subjects which will appeal to young people, we hope to challenge this perception and show that libraries are still relevant and worthwhile places for young adults to visit.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Richard Hughes, Chief Executive of Awen Cultural Trust, the charity which runs local library services in partnership with Bridgend County Borough Council, said: “Carnegie UK Trust received over 70 applications, so to be selected from such strong competition is a fantastic achievement for Harriet, Pyle Library and the local community. As well as improving the relationship between libraries and young people, we will be helping to further develop their digital, literacy and communication skills, all of which will be essential for future successful careers.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Carnegie Library Lab is a three-year programme (2014-2017) created by the Carnegie UK Trust to support and develop innovation and leadership in the public library sector. This is the second and final round of Library Lab funding to be made available by the Trust. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Martyn Evans, Chief Executive, Carnegie UK Trust said: “Libraries make a major contribution to our wellbeing and are essential sources for learning and information at the heart of our communities. These are challenging times for libraries and innovation and leadership are vital to their continued success. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“The winning Library Lab projects demonstrate the creative ways that library spaces can be utilised and services developed. We are delighted to be working with these projects and we wish all of our Partners the best of luck in taking their initiatives forward.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​