London Libraries: A Shared Vision for Digital Inclusion
October 6, 2026
At last month’s London Libraries Conference we were delighted to participate in what was a thought-provoking day of discussions and presentations. With 20 library authorities in London amongst our customers, it was a great opportunity for Netloan account manager Jo Slade to catch up with this community and hear more widely about priorities, ambitions and challenges shaping library services across the capital.
The session Libraries for Living: Designing and Delivering a New Strategy for London Libraries included the underlying need for coordination in delivering digital inclusion. This priority already features in Greater London Authority missions and presents a partnership opportunity between libraries and Transport for London.
It’s certainly good to see that digital inclusion is one of the foundational promises of the new strategy, for libraries to be the trusted gateway to information and digital confidence. We couldn’t agree more, and are here to support you. We are proud to provide technical expertise in providing computer and print services tailored to these needs. Many already view Netloan as being integral to supporting the People’s Network, and the vast majority of customers rely on our experience and service for delivering robust print services too. See our article here on how our print services enable libraries to go above and beyond in supporting their users.
The key promise for libraries to be the gateway to stories, information, creativity and cultural life was also discussed at the conference. A well designed library with the infrastructure to support information access and engagement is equally supportive of creative and cultural participation.
With the drive to build AI confidence also featuring, we point to our recent AI research, available here. An extract from this research describes libraries as “The gateway for the digitally excluded to be able to assess and embrace AI, thus performing a crucial community and social role” – as one London Library and Archives Services Manager told us.
A further priority in the strategic plan is to gather evidence regionally and locally, providing insight, speaking with a compelling and unified voice to the decision-makers. Here too, we want to continue providing London Libraries with useful support – alongside all those across the UK and further afield. With supplier relationships with over 60% of London Libraries, our advocacy and research programme is a valuable source of data to which they contribute each year.
All libraries are welcome to draw on it as evidence in their own advocacy efforts – you can see the latest results here. We regularly hear how these findings help libraries demonstrate their value and strengthen the case for recognition and investment.
As London Libraries moves forward with its new strategy, the themes of digital inclusion, access and confidence all reinforce something we see every day: libraries provide essential infrastructure for participation in modern life. We look forward to continuing to support that work through our technology, expertise, research and advocacy that help libraries keep turning their ambitions into strong, accessible services for their communities.
