2015 Edinburgh International Book Festival

With the world’s knowledge accessible from anywhere via a computer screen, why should we continue to value physical spaces for literacy? In this discussion, recorded live at the Edinburgh International Book Festival, we hear from key thinkers on libraries. Robyn Marsack is director of the Scottish Poetry Library, the world’s only purpose-built library for poetry. Claire Warwick is Pro-Vice-Chancellor of Research at Durham University and is concerned with the way we encounter reading and cultural heritage in both physical and digital spaces. Dutch architect Francine Houben believes that ‘libraries are the most important public buildings’ and has recently completed Birmingham Central – the largest public library in Europe. The event is chaired by Marc Lambert, the Director of the Scottish Book Trust.