We’re thrilled to receive this Libraries Connected Award as it reinforces the value­of­our­project.­Our­project­topic­is­ a­difficult­one­and­the­recognition­gives­ us­confidence­that­it­is­worthwhile.­We’re­ really proud of what we’ve achieved and it’s exciting to know that Libraries Connected are working from the founda- tions we’ve created to devise a national framework to enable all libraries around the­country­to­become­death­positive.


Sam Whitehouse, Wakefield Libraries Culture and Creativity Award winner The main aim of Cinema in the Li- brary was to provide a unique space in Pontefract­for­people­to­enjoy­cultural­ events.­We­wanted­to­make­cinema­easily­ affordable­and­accessible­to­people­who­ may otherwise not be able to visit the cinema or enjoy cultural events because of­financial­or­travel­reasons.­ Cinema in the Library has allowed us to reach a wide range of audiences, includ- ing­schools,­musicians­and­artists.­We’re­ particularly proud that many of the people who have visited the cinema had never­been­into­the­library­before.­They­ left­having­enjoyed­a­film­and­as­new­ members­of­the­library.­We’ve­hosted­ schools­from­across­the­Pontefract­area,­ who have returned for class visits and the


Death Positive Library project.


cinema has become a venue for birthday parties.­ We­used­the­Universal­Offers,­particu- larly Culture, Health and Wellbeing and Reading,­as­a­guide­in­our­initial­planning.­ It helped us to have a clear focus on what we­wanted­the­Cinema­in­the­Library­to­be.­ The­Culture­offer­was­the­one­we­always­ came­back­to,­and­it’s­the­offer­we­contin- ue­to­work­towards.­Libraries­are­already­ rich places for cultural experiences, but Cinema in the Library allows us to host


more­events,­offer­customers­a­more­ unique experience and leave a lasting impression.­


The project was unlike anything we’d tackled­before­at­Pontefract­Library.­ The idea developed from a Christmas event we held in one of our rooms where we screened The Polar Express for our customers.­After­the­success­of­this­ event, we decided to make Cinema in the Library­a­permanent­fixture.­The­room­ was a blank canvas, and it took a lot of


October-November 2021


INFORMATION PROFESSIONAL 33


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