A library has been hailed as a shining example of how public spaces can tackle inequality.
Worcester’s Hive library, the only fully integrated public and university library in the UK, features in a new book by poverty expert Joanna Mack.
In her book, Impoverished: How to Fix Britain’s Poverty Problem, Ms Mack describes The Hive as “an imaginative centre of learning for people of all ages” and praises it as “driven by an ethos of inclusivity.”
Speaking after the recent launch of the book, Ms Mack said: “We often think of poverty in terms of income, but it’s also about what services and opportunities people can access.
“When high-quality public services decline or become harder to access, that deepens inequality.
“What somewhere like The Hive does is open up those resources to everyone, making the university part of the community and giving people access to learning opportunities they might not otherwise have.
“It’s absolutely critical to bring people together – especially at a time when society feels divided.
“Shared spaces and shared services help to break down those barriers.”
Joanna Mack, author of Impoverished: How to Fix Britain’s Poverty Problem (Image: University of Worcester)
Opened in 2012 by the late Queen Elizabeth II, the Hive continues to serve as a combined resource for the public and university communities.
Ms Mack said: “Universities play a critical role in places like Worcester.
“They draw people in and act as a major boost to the local economy, and the more they are open and part of the community, the more they’re understood and appreciated.”
David Green, vice chancellor and chief executive of the University of Worcester, said the Hive offers resources that benefit people of all ages.
Mr Green said: “One of the features which makes The Hive so uniquely valuable is that children, parents, grandparents and guardians have full access to the University’s extensive collection of teaching resources, to help children learn about everything ranging from the natural world, through to arithmetic and spelling, to the religions of the world.
“The children’s library is an inspiring facility, and it is wonderful that it is so well used by so many, helping to share education and human understanding from the early years of life onward.”