What is LibraryOn

LibraryOn is a publicly-funded, not-for-profit programme that promotes the work of public libraries. It aims to increase visits to public libraries by making their offers and services easier to discover and use.

Funded by Arts Council England, and with libraries and library ethics at its heart, LibraryOn currently does this in two core ways:

• Through the LibraryOn website, we share content that tells real stories from library staff, customers and volunteers. And we communicate the range of services, community activities and content libraries offer. By showing the real difference libraries make, we aim to encourage more people to explore what they offer – in-person and online.
• The LibraryOn grants programme has, to date, distributed £1.1m of funding to library services across England in 2023 to help library services make the most of the opportunities technology offers to be able to connect to their audiences. Through the funding we have been able to support library services to improve their online presence and discoverability. We also convene a Community of Practice for grant recipients to connect and share information and inspiration.

Learn more about the LibraryOn grants programme

Why are we building LibraryOn?

Libraries have always been cornerstones of local communities, but today what they offer is not widely understood. We hope to update perceptions of how public libraries help individuals and communities by repositioning libraries as modern and relevant spaces that are open to everyone.

In addition, our goal is for LibraryOn to become a gateway to libraries on a national level. We’ll continue to add functionality to the LibraryOn website as we build a national platform that helps everyone access services provided by libraries online. Digital information and services are the default for many people in society, and we want everyone to get the same kind of experience from libraries.