Devon County Council's bid to the Enterprising Libraries fund (which is a combination of Arts Council/DCLG/British Library money) has been successful. They will be awarded £45,000 to pilot 3 distinct areas:
-To establish a Business & IP Centre (with support from both the British Library and the new Library of Birmingham) at the new Exeter Library
-To establish a ‘Hack/Maker space’ at Moretonhampstead Library to show (amongst other things) how social enterprise models can support rural libraries
-To establish a Free Fridays Enterprise service, enabling unemployed people and those affected by welfare reform, to develop business ideas.
Devon County Council will be one of 10 projects across England.