We are deeply saddened by the passing of Dolly Parton. Dolly understood the transformative power of books and through her Imagination Library shared that passion with millions of children around the world. She will be greatly missed across the library and literacy sectors.

📈 New government figures show a significant rise in library use across England - 36% of people aged 16+ engaged with a library service at least once in 2025/26. That's up from 31% the previous year and the highest level since the pandemic. Read the full findings: www.gov.uk/government/s...

Community and Engagement Survey 2025/26 - libraries: report

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Public libraries are uniquely placed to help communities navigate misinformation and disinformation. This new Arts Council England report highlights both the opportunity and the challenge: www.artscouncil.org.uk/research-and...

Our 'How libraries can support AI and digital media literacy' guide shares learning from the Innovating in Trusted Spaces project, which explored how libraries can support AI and media literacy in their communities. 📖 Read the guide and other resources: www.librariesconnected.org.uk/index.php/pr...

Our Meet the Winners webinar brought together winners and runners-up from the 2026 Libraries Connected Awards to share the ideas behind their work and the lessons they've learned along the way. Watch the recording on YouTube: ▶️ youtu.be/OPHK1gEJ3qw

Libraries Connected Awards 2026: Meet The Winners | Libraries Connected Webinars

Hear directly from some of this year's Libraries Connected Award winners and runners-up. From improving children's reading and wellbeing, to helping young people develop digital skills, tackling…

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Summer holidays are a great opportunity for libraries to get out into their communities. One example comes from Essex, where the library service took over a Clacton beach hut to run activities for local families. We'd love to hear more examples - what outreach activities have you run this summer?

How can library staff create engaging storytelling experiences for a multilingual audience? Find out at our Multilingual Storytelling Workshop on 1 September, 2-3pm. Find out more and book your place: www.librariesconnected.org.uk/events/webin...

Last year, we delivered more than 50 webinars, with 3,000 live participants and a further 3,000 on-demand views. Missed one? Catch up on our YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/@librariesco...

We welcome the Government's recognition of the role libraries play in supporting mental health. This must be matched by investment in staff, training and facilities, while protecting libraries as trusted, neutral spaces for everyone. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

New walk-in mental health centres to open in banks and libraries across England

Government plans network of nearly 200 specialist services to help those facing mental health crises.

bbc.co.uk

At our Meet the Winners webinar, you'll hear practical insights from this year's Libraries Connected Awards winners and runners-up, with time to ask questions and explore how their approaches could work in your own service. 📅 Tues 11 Aug, 2pm 🔗 www.librariesconnected.org.uk/events/webin...

Following her appearance on Woman's Hour yesterday, our CEO Isobel Hunter reflects on the question: are library closures misogynistic? 🔗 Read Isobel's blog: www.librariesconnected.org.uk/news/not-mis...

Are library closures misogynistic? That was the question posed by Kirsten MacQuarrie on BBC Radio 4's Woman's Hour, with Libraries Connected CEO Isobel Hunter joining the discussion. 🎧 Listen here: www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/... (starts at 16:41)

Woman's Hour - Listener Week: Marriage & friends, Library cuts, NICU babies, Intergenerational friendships - BBC Sounds

As Listener Week kicks off, how honest are you with your friends about your marriage?

bbc.co.uk

📢 Today we're publishing our first impact report, showcasing how we're supporting our members to collaborate, innovate and respond to the changing needs of their communities. You can read and download the report here: www.librariesconnected.org.uk/news/librari...

Today we wrote to Kanishka Narayan MP, the newly reappointed Minister for AI, calling for stronger national coordination and investment in community AI literacy through public libraries. Find out more and read the letter: www.librariesconnected.org.uk/news/librari...

Updated guidance for library and archive services navigating LGR is now available. Designed for heads of service, it explores the opportunities and challenges ahead, the questions to ask, and how to engage confidently as new authority structures take shape. 🔗 www.local.gov.uk/our-support/...

Great to see public libraries highlighted by the BBC as a low-cost way for families to make the most of the summer holidays. 🔗 www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Five ways to make the most of the summer holidays with kids

The best tips and tricks to have a fun - yet affordable - summer break with the family.

bbc.co.uk

📍Around 78% of people in England and Wales can reach a public library within a 30-minute walk. Few public services have this level of local reach. Source: www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopula...

🏆 Meet the Winners! Join us on 11 August at 2pm for our Meet the Winners webinar, where you'll hear directly from some of this year's Libraries Connected Award winners and runners-up. 👉 Book your place: www.librariesconnected.org.uk/events/webin...

🏖️📚 Looking for a summer read? A huge thank you to all the library staff who submitted their holiday reading recommendations! We narrowed them down to 20 books that made us want to add them straight to our own TBR pile. 📖 Browse the full list: www.librariesconnected.org.uk/news/looking...

📢 We're hiring! We're looking for a new Regional Development Manager to join the Libraries Connected team- a fantastic opportunity for someone who wants to help libraries achieve even more by working together www.charityjob.co.uk/jobs/librari...

The Education Committee has today published its report on Reading for Pleasure - and many of our recommendations are included. This is a clear call to action: the Burnham government must make reading for pleasure part of its mission to expand opportunity publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm5902/cm...

Another thoughtful and productive discussion today at the latest meeting of the Libraries Alliance, hosted by Lambeth Palace Library - a library that has welcomed the public since 1610. Watch this space for more Libraries Alliance news soon! librariesalliance.org.uk

🎓 Our new learning portal is now live! To access the portal, you'll need a member account. Simply log in to the member platform and select Learning from the top menu. If you don't yet have an account, you can set one up at members.librariesconnected.org.uk

We warmly welcome today's DCMS announcement of £12.5m for the Music in Libraries programme. We look forward to seeing the impact it will have on the next generation of musicians, producers and creative talent!

Congratulations to Patrice Lawrence, the new @booktrust.org.uk Children's Laureate. Patrice's avowal to champion 'shared stories as a tool for bringing people together' is one shared by public libraries. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Brighton-born author Patrice Lawrence named new children's laureate

Brighton-born Patrice Lawrence will be the main representative of children's literature until 2028.

bbc.co.uk

Our Chief Executive Isobel Hunter MBE will speak tomorrow in Newcastle upon Tyne at the first Reading with Dementia symposium. The event explores supporting people living with dementia to keep reading for enjoyment. It is funded by @artscouncilengland.bsky.social.

📢 We're hiring! We’re looking for a Digital Communications Officer. For full details and to apply visit CharityJob: www.charityjob.co.uk/jobs/librari... 📅 Deadline for applications: July 16, 9am

🚀 Today we’re launching Shared Ambitions! Created with @artscouncilengland.bsky.social, @cilip.bsky.social and @librariesrising.bsky.social, this new resource sets out a shared vision for a diverse, inclusive and future-ready library workforce www.librariesconnected.org.uk/news/library...

We're leading a new Arts Council England-funded project to strengthen how public libraries and independent publishers work together on ebooks - helping more readers discover and borrow a wider range of titles during the National Year of Reading www.librariesconnected.org.uk/news/librari...

The Quilt of Welcome, part of the #LovedAndWanted project, is on display at Redbridge Library until 24 July. Funded by london.gov.uk and tnlcommunityfund.org.uk Loved and Wanted is a campaign promoting social cohesion across London. www.librariesconnected.org.uk/projects/lov...