Twenty-First Century Libraries

17th Mar 2011

NLS, George IV Bridge, Edinburgh

The orthodoxies, role and value of libraries and indeed the place of paper in an increasingly digital age will be discussed by three experts from entirely different organisations: Martyn Wade, Scotland’s National Librarian, Chris Banks, Director of Aberdeen University library and Karen Cunningham, who heads Glasgow City Council Libraries.

Martyn Wade FRSA joined the National Library of Scotland (NLS) as National Librarian in 2002, after 25 years experience in the public library sector.  Martyn has a wide range of professional interests, and is an active member of a number of groups including: The Joint Committee on Legal Deposit, Collections Advisory Panel, National Trust for Scotland, Vice Chair of Edinburgh UNESCO City of Literature, The Board of the Scottish Poetry Library, The Scottish Library and Information Council, Scottish Confederation of University and Research Libraries and The Council of Lifelong Learning UK.

Chris Banks FRSA is University Librarian and Director, Library and Historic Collections at the University of Aberdeen. She has overall responsibility for the University's Library, Archive, Manuscript and Museum collections, including leading on the planning for the University’s new Library and Special Collections Centre, scheduled for opening in the autumn of 2011.  Chris is a member of SCURL, RLUK, LIBER and IAML.  She is a Trustee of the Britten-Pears Foundation and other Trusts.

Karen Cunningham is Head of Libraries, Glasgow Life.  She has responsibility for 34 Community Libraries and the Mitchell.  She undertook a major restructure and capital development programme, including the redevelopment of the Mitchell.  She has been a judge on the Orange Prize for Fiction and is heavily involved in professional bodies.  She is also founder and Director of Aye Write!, Glasgow’s Book Festival.

Bookings for complimentary places  open on Wednesday 1  September.  Book here.

An audio recording of this event is now available here.