Libraries & Culture

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We run libraries that serve communities – as well as playing a vital role in shaping them.

Adult and young child reading together on a colorful library sofa, enjoying story time.

Libraries are vital community hubs where people come to learn, connect, and access support. At GLL, we manage over 100 libraries, archives, and cultural centres across the UK on behalf of local councils. As the largest charitable social enterprise in this sector, we reinvest every penny back into delivering sustainable, high-quality services.

Delivering essential, high-quality library services

Some of the libraries we run are among the busiest and best performing in the country, while others serve smaller communities, often hosting co-located services that provide additional local support. In one borough alone, our library services generate over £22 million in social value each year. We focus on providing core services that people rely on daily, including free book lending, children’s activities, computer access, WiFi, printing, and welcoming spaces staffed by knowledgeable teams embedded in the community.

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Beyond the basics, the libraries we operate are centres for learning and skills development. Each year, we deliver over 700,000 hours of community education including digital skills training, reading and coding clubs, job support, and language classes. We also run financial wellbeing workshops and dementia-friendly activities, all designed in partnership with local colleges, the NHS, and national organisations to meet the specific needs of the communities we serve.

We are also committed to widening access through innovation and technology. GLL was the first UK library operator to introduce API-driven digital catalogues, making it easier for people to search and borrow online. Assistive technologies and interactive environments like the Enchanted Reading Garden at Eltham Libraryopen_in_new ensure that libraries are inclusive and welcoming for all.

Child and adult drawing on a large interactive screen in a library.

Culture and creativity are at the heart of what we do. We collaborate with national partners to deliver author events, exhibitions, business support centres, and accredited training for library staff. Our prison libraries promote education and rehabilitation, contributing to reducing reoffending.

A key part of our cultural work is the GLL Literary Foundationopen_in_new, which supports emerging children's authors by providing mentoring and development opportunities. This initiative, supported by The Reading Agency, helps to nurture new voices and enrich the literary landscape, ensuring that libraries remain vibrant centres of creativity and learning.

We understand the challenges faced by councils and are committed to working collaboratively to keep libraries open, relevant, and financially sustainable. Through ongoing investment in people, partnerships, and services, we help libraries adapt and thrive as pillars of strong, inclusive communities.

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115

libraries managed

7m+

items issued annually

700k+

learning hours per year

6m

customer visits to our libraries

Libraries and Cultural Engagement

Libraries at the heart of community growth

Delivering essential, high-quality library services

Supporting lifelong learning and inclusion

Enriching communities through culture and partnerships

Our achievements in libraries

115

7m+

700k+

6m