Library Card Music Player

Crowdfunder appeal launched to install a Library Card Music Player device in Exeter Library for the Summer Reading Challenge.

The Library Card Music Player Project, which was originally funded by the Arts Council England, allowed for the building and installing of three music-generating devices that have been installed into three different libraries in the UK. Each device plays a short melody created from a borrower’s library card and, every time a borrower uses the card, they will hear the same tune.

The Summer Reading Challenge, presented by The Reading Agency and funded by Arts Council England, encourages children aged 4 to 11 to set themselves a reading challenge to help prevent the summer reading 'dip'. Each year the Challenge, delivered with the support of public libraries, motivates over 700,000 children to keep reading to build their skills and conﬁdence. This year, The Reading Agency is partnering with Science Museum Group for Gadgeteers, a science and innovation themed Challenge that will spark children's curiosity about the world around them.

The Library Card Music Player fits in with this theme being a combination of art and technology, the device itself uses a Raspberry Pi at its heart.

“Most libraries now have self-issue card machines and, in a similar way, users can scan their library card to produce a melody, almost like self-issuing their own tune,” says Belshaw. “Once new library users find a melody that resonates with them, this tune will be played every time they use their card. We hope that by engaging borrowers in such a unique way, this will attract more users to take up the Summer Reading Challenge.”