Coventry Libraries' new Digital Spaces are now open to the public. Come and explore the future of how people connect, create and share.
Go on a VR or immersive adventure, join in art projects, or explore your family history and cultural background while having access to tools like printers, computers, workshops, books and more!
We hope you'll join us for virtual exploration and creative discovery!
BFI Replay [https://replay.bfi.org.uk/]
60 years of screen stories, digitised and preserved for you.
Relive, research and lose yourself in the past with thousands of digitised videos and television programmes from the collections of the BFI National Archive and partner UK Regions and Nations Film Archives.
Available for you to view from a Library computer. Remember to bring along your headphones!
Immersive Audio [https://www.coventry.gov.uk/libraries-1/digital-spaces-coventry-libraries/2]
Put on your headphones and take a journey through the BBC's awe-inspiring immersive audio experiences - now available in Coventry Libraries.
Virtual Reality Library [https://www.coventry.gov.uk/info/126/libraries/4037/digital_spaces_at_coventry_libraries/2]
Do you like to explore and discover new worlds? Come into the library, put a headset on and be transported to a different time or place. Available at Central Library.
Tile Hill: Pride of Place [https://www.coventry.gov.uk/info/126/libraries/4037/digital_spaces_at_coventry_libraries/4]
An exhibition of photographs, memories and items that tell a story about Tile Hill. Curated by The Caravan Gallery and the people of Tile Hill.
Formed in Foleshill: Family, Culture and Wellness [https://www.coventry.gov.uk/libraries-1/digital-spaces-coventry-libraries/5]
A creative programme for members of Broad Street Wellness Junction exploring family histories and cultural background through jewellery making and craft workshops.
How Places Feel: Riley Square [https://www.coventry.gov.uk/libraries-1/digital-spaces-coventry-libraries/6]
Discovering the unheard stories of past and present-day life, told through the voices, sounds and music of communities living in and around Bell Green.
Get it Loud in Libraries Academy [https://www.coventry.gov.uk/libraries-1/digital-spaces-coventry-libraries/7]
The GILIL Academy Music Camp is a jam-packed series of unique opportunities empowering young people to use their gig experiences to create a short film and digital content.
Digital Spaces Presents... Showcase [https://www.coventry.gov.uk/libraries-1/digital-spaces-coventry-libraries/8]
A two-day showcase of live events that featured digital activities, artwork and immersive experiences celebrating Coventry Libraries as places of creativity, community and new perspectives.
Immersive Audio
Step into a world of immersive sound at your local library
Put on your headphones and take a journey through the BBC's awe-inspiring binaural audio experiences!
Binaural audio offers a complete 360-degree listening experience. From a whisper in your ear, to the distant sound of birdsong, the binaural sound is designed to work with headphones. It uses clever recording technology to trick you into believing the action is going on around you in real-time.
You can explore our catalogue of binaural audio offerings [https://www.coventry.gov.uk/downloads/download/7058/immersive-audio-catalogue] now in our libraries.
Ask a member of staff for more information, or to borrow headphones.
Or you can try them out for yourself at home via our immersive audio online hub. [https://canvas-story.bbcrewind.co.uk/binaural/]
All you need is a pair of headphones to enjoy binaural sound.
Happy listening!
Virtual Reality Library
Do you like to explore and discover new worlds? Get your headset on at the VR Library and find yourself transported to a different time or place!
Our incredible creative virtual reality experiences, including award-winning BBC content, offer something for everyone: from exploring the Congo to flying a WW2 Lancaster Bomber during the Berlin Blitz. You could go on a time-travelling adventure with Doctor Who, or ride alongside one of India’s stuntwomen.
Virtual reality and immersive audio sessions are available in the VR space at Central Library [https://www.coventry.gov.uk/centrallibrary]
| Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday | Saturday | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Central Library | None | None | None | 11am-1pm | 2pm-4pm | 1.30pm-3.30pm |
To find out more or to book a session please contact your local library [http://www.coventry.gov.uk/communitylibraries]
View the full VR Library Catalogue [https://www.coventry.gov.uk/downloads/file/37207/vr_library_content_catalogue].
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Berlin Blitz 1943 Join BBC war correspondent Wynford Vaughan-Thomas onboard a Lancaster bomber to the heart of Nazi-occupied Europe, enduring endless flak and a night fighter attack. Runtime: 14 minutes |
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Congo VR: A Troubled Past The Congo is one of the world’s great rivers. Take a Virtual Reality journey through the Democratic Republic of the Congo from the Atlantic Ocean to the river’s furthest reaches with the BBC’s Africa Correspondent Alastair Leithead. In the first episode, visit a former president’s overgrown jungle palace, and while hunting with pygmies hear about the country’s brutal history. Runtime: 10 minutes |
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Congo VR: War and Disease The Congo is one of the most powerful rivers on the planet. It drains the Democratic Republic of the Congo – a country the size of western Europe. In this second episode, take to the rapids in a narrow tree-trunk boat and then head to one of the most dangerous parts of the country where there’s war and Ebola. Runtime: 10 minutes |
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Congo VR: Great Riches The mighty Congo River cuts through the largest rainforest outside the Amazon and has wildlife found nowhere else on earth. The Democratic Republic of the Congo could be one of the richest countries in Africa, but its people are among the poorest. In this final episode, join the BBC’s Africa Correspondent Alastair Leithead searching for endangered gorillas in the rainforest and exploring its mining heartland. Runtime: 10 minutes |
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Crossing the Sky Crossing the Sky follows two sisters on their long and perilous trip to school in the Himalayas. Radhika is 14 and Yashoda is 16 years old. Every day, they wake up at 5am and leave Swaya, their remote Uttarakhand village of 500 people, to start their 2-3 hour trip to school. This involves a steep trek in the mountains and crossing a flooded river by pulling a trolley over gushing waters. Join them on their journey in this stunning 360° film from BBC News. Runtime: 8 minutes |
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Doctor Who: The Runaway Step inside the TARDIS with the Doctor and be introduced to a strange and magnificent ball of living energy called Volta. Part teenager, part bomb, Volta is very unstable. In fact, he’s primed to explode unless he can be returned to his home planet, sharpish. Drawn into a frantic chase with a squad of galactic busybodies, become the Doctor’s assistant in a race against time to get Volta home. Runtime: 13 minutes |
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Hand in Hand Visit India's Kumbh Mela festival - the world's largest gathering of people. Here, in Allahabad, Hindus believe that bathing in the river will cleanse them of sins and set them free from the cycle of birth and death. Manorama Mishra (72) and Girija Devi (68) are from two villages in northern India. Both lead lonely lives - Ms Devi can go days without talking to anyone while Ms Mishra's life is an endless wait for a visit from one of her children. Their lives take a happy turn, however, when they arrive at the Kumbh Mela and find each other. Follow their transformational journey… Runtime: 8 minutes |
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India's Stuntwomen Only eight out of 700 of India’s stunt performers are women. Two of them show us how they stay on top of a male dominated film industry. Stand on a motorcycle while riding with Anam Hashim, a 23 year old who loves doing what scares her the most. You’ll likely duck at the punches thrown at you by 32 year old Geeta Tandon, a Bollywood stunt artist who has suffered several bone fractures. Their physical challenges reflect the struggles they face as stuntwomen in a deeply patriarchal society. They find joy in their high risk jobs, which also gratify them as they set forward to bring the change they want in their society. Runtime: 7 minutes |
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Missing Pictures: Episode 1: Birds of Prey Many incredible ideas for films never see the light of day. Missing Pictures is a VR documentary series that brings these untold stories to life. The first part of this series features award-winning director Abel Ferrara. He takes us on a thrilling journey into the depth of the uncompleted project Birds of Prey. Ferrara has said: “No one can stop me from talking about my movie.” This platform allows him – and other filmmakers – to tell the incredible story behind his film to us in the most imaginative way. Contains Strong Language Runtime: 8 minutes |
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Nothing to be Written Part artwork, part documentary, Nothing to be Written tells the stories of First World War ‘Field Postcards’, one of the only means of communication available to soldiers on the front. VR created with music composed by Anna Meredith. Runtime: 5 minutes |
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People Just Do Nothing Last thing you remember, you were enjoying a premium lager at a pub near your record label HQ. Now you find yourself in a flat in Brentford where a man named Chabuddy G has an important question for you... Will you sign Kurupt FM? Contains Strong Language Runtime: 5 minutes |
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The Turning Forest In a magical forest, a young child stares into the eyes of a fantastical creature and together they embark on an unforgettable journey in this interactive fairy tale for all ages. Runtime: 7 minutes |
Tile Hill: Pride of Place
For the Tile Hill: Pride of Place project, The Caravan Gallery co-curated a community-based exhibition, collecting and displaying public contributions relating to Tile Hill’s past and present.
Tile Hill residents had the opportunity to have their own artwork, household treasures and stories featured as part of a special exhibition, produced by The Caravan Gallery artists and photographers Jan Williams and Chris Teasdale.
The exhibition on display at Tile Hill Library also includes a hand drawn ‘People’s Map of Tile Hill’, featuring contributions from the local community. The Caravan Gallery also offered several local guided walks and postcard making workshops.
Visit the Tile Hill Pride of Place Project exhibition in the library and help it grow by contributing your own artwork, stories and objects.
The Caravan Gallery’s Tile Hill Pride of Place Project is part of Coventry Libraries Service’s programme Digital Spaces, funded by Arts Council England and produced by The Space.
Listen to the 'Digital Spaces present' podcast episode 'Tile Hill's Pride of Place Project in Full: Fostering New Connections'. [https://open.spotify.com/episode/1A2X5a6qsudiHilg8Knp2Z]
Formed in Foleshill: Family, Culture and Wellness
Formed in Foleshill was a creative programme for members of Broad Street Wellness Junction exploring family histories and cultural background through jewellery making and craft workshops.
The jewellery created as part of this project was on display at Foleshill Library from 7 February to 12 March 2022.
Another Jewellery Workshop took place from 4pm-6pm on Friday 11 March 2022 at Foleshill Library. Participants had the chance to create their own piece of jewellery and enjoy a special viewing of the exhibition.
Listen to the 'Digital Spaces present' podcast episode 'Formed in Foleshill in Full: Reigniting Creativity and Connection'. [https://open.spotify.com/episode/4yOAKimJyxCgLOP1NAZOPN]
How Places Feel: Riley Square
Discovering the unheard stories of past and present-day life, told through the voices, sounds and music of communities living in and around Bell Green.
For the How Places Feel: Riley Square project, artists Darryl Georgiou and Rebekah Tolley worked with the communities in and around Bell Green Library to create a range of audio and visual creations, through activities that included photography sessions and audio recording workshops taking place in Riley Square.
Listen to the 'Digital Spaces present' podcast episode, 'Bell Green Library in Full: How Places Feel, Riley Square'. [https://open.spotify.com/episode/5J9cIIfcUJvIq6w9L1Rm8y]
Listen to the BBC Radio 3 Slow Radio episode 'Coventry's Riley Square'. [https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p0bxhz78]
Get it Loud in Libraries Academy
The Get it Loud in Libraries Academy Music Camp was a jam-packed series of unique opportunities for young people to engage with live music through workshops, mentoring and work placements.
Watch the short film created by the young people from Coventry's GILIL Academy, interviewing library staff about Central Library's GILIL gigs.
Digital Spaces Presents... Showcase
Digital Spaces Presents… was a two-day showcase on 1 and 2 July 2022, filled with live events that featured digital activities, artwork and immersive experiences, celebrating Coventry Libraries as places of creativity, community and new perspectives.
The showcase also saw the opening of We Are Coventry, an immersive exhibition of photography and sounds from the three community art projects which have taken place as a part of Digital Spaces.
Take a look at the amazing Google Tiltbrush sessions that were on offer at the Showcase, led by VR artist Kieran Steels.
Digital projects from across the country
Discover other digital projects happening in Coventry and across the country:
'House is a Feeling': The Story of Rave in Coventry through the eyes of Coventry-based artist, documentary filmmaker and producer Adrian Dowling [https://www.peoplesplans.org/blog-claiming-space-culture-and-community-through-music-ecstasy-and-dancing/].
Learn about the history of Coventry's rave culture, and hear how Adrian Dowling seeks to re-present and re-value working class culture through his art.
'Reflection' is a social and historical documentation of British working class art, music and culture, focused on the city of Coventry in the West Midlands, UK. [https://www.reflectionmediaart.com/]
Experience an honest and uncensored view from the streets through short films, feature-length radio documentaries and immersive exhibitions.
David Lloyd accepts the Reflection digital media content to be stored in the Coventry archive's. Handed over by Amnesia House members, some of Coventry's dance music pioneers and the Reflection Media team.
StoryTrails: Explore towns across the UK in a completely new way through the magic of augmented and virtual reality [https://story-trails.com/].
Find out how to download the StoryTrails app [https://story-trails.com/app-installation-guide/] and play around with the remote augmented reality trails. Select a town and access a unique tabletop experience.