New potential

Libraries can provide the social capital for a whole city. They are cultural and learning institutions that reflect the future aspirations of the city, its dreams, hopes and artistic and creative potential. Nowhere is this more visible than in Birmingham, the youngest major city in Europe and an example of cities of the future. In designing a new library in Birmingham we have tried to meet the needs and hopes of the younger generation.

Young people are not engaged with the instruments of society by default and it is up to us to instill children and young people with the skills needed to participate in their communities. Libraries are social institutions as well as places of solace and research, and it is also up to us to engage young people to ensure that their potential is met.

We envisaged an event-rich environment that would appeal to young people

We have placed engagement with young people at the heart of our strategy throughout the design of the new library in Birmingham, asking them from the start what it is that they would want from a new library. We have spoken to homeless young people who needed employment, to pupils in secondary schools and to students. We chose Malala Yousafzai, a Pakistani school girl campaigning for education rights for women, to open the library as an emblem of the new Birmingham citizen of the world, and the huge positive response we received is indicative of the relevance of libraries in the 21st century.

The important question that remains is not whether we need high quality libraries in the 21st century, but what type of libraries. We envisaged an event-rich environment that would appeal to young people, allowing them the opportunity to design and produce activities. It also had to be an attractive public realm where they would be inspired, but which they could also simply enjoy, whether for study or relaxation.

Digital is critical to engaging young people, and we have done this through social media, bespoke library apps, mobile gaming and in-library interactive ICT, but we have also done more than that. A collaborative project called ‘Who Am I’ used a range of art forms to explore ideas of citizenship, heritage and identity that young people in the city today believe shape their world. The resulting exhibition inspired even more young people to get involved and engage with the library. Another project, Birmingham 2022, involved a group of young people who designed and produced the brochure for the library’s opening season and contributed a vision for arts activities in 2022, which we are taking on board and working to implement.

Our new library is helping to change the face of the city, its image and its self-image, and given all citizens – especially its young people – a new sense of pride, ownership and belonging.