Moving Bookshelves & Breaking Rules: Exeter Library's Cultural Revolution

Callum Elliott-Archer, Centre Manager of Exeter Library, reveals how breaking decades-old rules, listening to teenagers, and moving furniture on wheels transformed a declining library into an award-winning cultural hub with higher footfall than pre-COVID.

When Callum took over as Centre Manager in 2020, libraries nationwide were closing and visits were declining. Rather than accept the trend, he asked fundamental questions: What is a library in 2025? Is this building actually welcoming? The answers led to revolutionary changes – allowing food, creating dedicated teen spaces, hosting opera performances, and running over-sixties discos. The result? A "living room of the city" that's reversed national trends.

Services Beyond Books

• Free computer access and WiFi
• Tech support for those unfamiliar with smartphones/internet
• Digital audiobook setup help
• Social housing applications and Universal Credit support
• Space for community groups (no permission needed)
• Cultural performances at accessible prices
• Study and meeting spaces

Website & Resources Mentioned

• Libraries Limited: https://www.librariesunlimited.org.uk/
• Exeter Library events calendar: https://discover.librariesunlimited.org.uk/whats-on#/?location=Exeter%20Library