Celebrating #LibrariesWeek with D-Tech
Here at D-Tech, we can’t wait to celebrate Libraries Week 2021, which will be running from the 4th to the 10th of October. This year’s week will celebrate the integral role that libraries play in communities across the UK, particularly with regards to encouraging inclusion, sustainability and social mobility. Organised by CILIP – the library and information association – the week-long celebration will pay homage to the nation’s much-loved libraries, recognising the role that they play in bringing members of the community together.
In the UK alone, there are just over 3,660 public libraries, with a combined total of 7.3 million active borrows visiting their local library throughout the year. This can largely be attributed to the diverse range of services that libraries are able to offer their patrons, from the vast array of literary material, online resources and access to technology, to a vibrant community space ideal for knowledge sharing.
Supporting Libraries During a Global Pandemic
Over the course of the last year, D-Tech has been working closely with libraries across the globe to keep the library experience as positive as possible during the challenging circumstances created by a global pandemic.
How to loan and return physical media in an increasingly contact-conscious society has become a frequently asked question for us at D-Tech. Fortunately, it is a question we have been able to answer very easily, as we have long been developing new technology solutions to enable users to keep making the most of their libraries. Our next generation self-service library kiosks are transforming the self-checkout experience for patrons across the globe, while appIT allows library visitors to borrow and renew books using only an app on their own mobile device.
However, we are also conscious that libraries are not simply hubs for literature, but centres for technological development. Libraries are playing a key role in the growth of the digital sector, contributing towards the development of inclusive communities that use their library for educational, recreational and business-related interests. Individuals across both the educational and business sectors utilise library technologies in their day-to-day operations, using services such as laptop and device sharing for hybrid working. Improving access to these technologies, during COVID-19 and beyond, have remained an important focus for D-Tech over the past 18 months and is one that will continue. Many libraries are now offering secure laptop sharing facilities, such as computeIT, which allows patrons, students and employees to easily adapt to hybrid working practices.
D-Tech is proud to be working with libraries across the globe and will be celebrating #LibrariesWeek with a range of activities and events throughout the week.