Liz McGettigan, Director of Digital Library and Cultural Experiences, SOLUS

Liz McGettigan BA MCILIP ACMI FRSA (@lizmcgettigan)

Job Title/Organisation: Director of Digital Library and Cultural Experiences, SOLUS

What does your role involve?

Transformation of library and cultural services through strategic use of innovative digital technology. Improving efficiency and transformation but also profile and audience development. Reinventing services with apps, interactivity, augmented reality, content management and gaming for new cultural audiences. Self-service/help technology in academic sector, small business incubators and working with services to convert traditional general library services into digital skills and job hubs. Designing digital learning/ maker labs for young people.

Digital Technology yes, but with objective to “make a difference to communities” to create digital inclusion spaces, innovative employment, social enterprise and regeneration opportunities, 

What do you consider to be the most imminent challenge in your line of work?

Funding is a challenge for the public sector more than ever but there is also a lack of strong leadership, innovation, imagination and bravery in the sector. 

What has been the most rewarding piece of work you've undertaken?

I always saw digital as the way forward and I worked with SOLUS to develop the first UK public library app and now it is available in 70 local authorities across the UK. I love working towards the national digital platform we are developing.

How can Scotland bridge the digital skills gap?

'Find the Hook', whether that is how to save money, follow a football team, bet on horses, pigeon racing or baking. It’s finding ways to show people how to book holidays, Skype with family abroad and making digital mean something to people. Then it’s about making those learning sessions free and available everywhere through serious radio and TV advertising

Which new technology excites you the most?

Undoubtedly, augmented reality. Essentially, augmented reality blurs the lines between what is real and what is computer generated; it links the real and virtual worlds, using digital technology to enhance a person’s external surroundings. Augmented reality provides additional information so the user can view the world in a different manner.

Given the raison d’etre of augmented reality is to enhance the user experience, it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to imagine the innumerable applications of augmented reality that will affect our daily lives, and as such, that businesses should be thinking about - augmented reality is big business.

The future of learning is going to be a creative, interactive experience, using groups, sound, touch and smell. It is about giving learners engaging and fun learning experiences and enabling them to create content.

What's your favourite app and why?

The SOLUS library app because it has opened the world of libraries to people from wherever they are. It has made new audiences rethink how innovative and creative libraries can be. 

What, for you, will 2016 be the year of from a technology/digital standpoint?

This will be the year we build our national digital library and information platform. Given funding issues it must be the year to use digital to create efficiencies but also excite new audiences. It will see public services coming together and co-locating using digital for cross-marketing.