This report on a collaborative arts initiative ‘Open Book’, a partnership between Transported, a community-based programme focused on participatory arts activities, and the Lincolnshire library service, contains a Social Return On Investment analysis of the project and its impact on stakeholders.

The aim of the partnership is to bring the arts to the libraries of Boston and South Holland, offering local people the chance to experience performance and visual arts in an unexpected setting. As part of this initiative, Open Book commissioned The Eloquent Fold (artists Carole Miles and Phiona Richards) to host book/print making workshops (A Small Library of Big Ideas) in 2015 at Boston, Long Sutton and Spalding libraries for one morning or afternoon over the course of four weeks per library.

These workshops enabled participants to use printmaking, drawing, photography, calligraphy, stitching, personal memorabilia, collage, and paper engineering to make ‘Big Ideas’ books. Each person designed and created one book to keep as well as one book to fill and leave with the Small Library of Big Ideas.

MB Associates (2016). Transported evaluation report, A Small Library, Open Book. Kendal: MB Associates.