Want to build your library teams confidence in engaging children and young people? One of the most useful frameworks for doing that is Lundy's Model of Participation, which helps turn children's right to be heard into meaningful action through four key elements: Space Voice Audience Influence

At West Northamptonshire Libraries, what began as a project inviting young people who identify as LGBTQIA+ to work with the library changed when staff listened to feedback.

Our Youth Engagement Network report has launched! Bringing together 236 young people and 20 library services, the report shares what happens when young people are genuinely involved in shaping library services. Find out more: librariesrising.org.uk/youth-engage...

We've been working with Arts Council England, Libraries Connected and CILIP to develop a shared strategy for the future public library workforce. From attracting new talent to identifying skills, we can make sure libraries meet the future needs of communities, including young people. bit.ly/4vsOJdv

Libraries Connected@librariesconnected.org.uk · 2mo ago

🚀 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...

New research from @literacy-trust.bsky.social shows a modest upturn in children’s reading enjoyment & daily reading, but reading enjoyment levels are still low and the inequality gap is widening. Libraries are a key part of inspiring a love of reading! #GoAllIn2026 with #libraries

National Literacy Trust reading for pleasure research 2026 | National Literacy Trust

Children and young people’s levels of reading for pleasure have risen for the first time in five years, having reached a 20-year low in 2025. Still, reading engagement remains critically low.

literacytrust.org.uk

This #VolunteersWeek, we’re celebrating all the incredible volunteers who support libraries across the UK. And this includes our trustees! Without them we wouldn’t be able to do what we do, so thank you to each and every one of you 🧡 Discover our trustees: librariesrising.org.uk/about-us/who...

Our final speaker of the day is Dr Shaddai Tembo discussing anti-racism in the early years. Exploring... What it is? Why we need it? What does it mean? #librariesrisingconference

Children and babies experience a range of emotions in response to what happens in their lives- Next session of the day is exploring mental health in early childhood with Alice Haynes from Anna Freud.

Second session of the day is Amy Gibson from Starcatchers. There's pompoms and fabric on the tables- It's going to be a great workshop!

Do animals make the same noise in every language? This isn't a riddle, this is how Alison and Louise from Early Years Alliance opened our first workshop of the morning at our #LibrariesRisingconference. A great way to show how children communicate in many more ways than we often make space for!

Our 2026 #librariesrisingconference has started! Tabitha set the scene for why early years work is so important, especially in the National Year of Reading. She encouraged everyone to immerse themselves in the day, guaranteeing you'll leave 'buzzing and fizzing' with ideas and knowledge.

With our conference less than 1 week away we wanted to share one of our sponsors, Peters. If you haven't come across Peters, they work with public libraries, School Library Services, prison libraries and museums around the UK to promote reading and support you in developing readers of all ages.

We were proud to be part of last week’s launch of the Libraries Alliance. The event brought together voices from across the sector; library staff and the communities they support, as well as politicians, academics and writers, highlighting how libraries support people at every stage of life.

Tackling social issues starts in early childhood. This is the starting point for Dr Shaddai Tembo’s session at our upcoming conference, Belonging from the Beginning. He’ll explore how anti-racist thinking shapes everyday practice and share practical ideas you can apply in your own library setting.

Have you seen the agenda for our annual conference Belonging from the Beginning? When: 12th May Where: Birmingham, or join us virtually librariesrising.org.uk/training-and...

Conference - LibrariesRising

12th May 2026 Hybrid Conference Belonging from the beginning Supporting inclusive early years practice in libraries We’re delighted to welcome you join us at the Libraries Rising Conference: Belonging...

librariesrising.org.uk

We're really pleased to share that BookingsPlus is our headline sponsor for our 2026 conference! They provide venue hire software and virtual tour services to Library Services, Local Authorities and schools, helping people find, book and explore spaces more easily before they visit.

As part of our weekly 'the role libraries play in supporting Family Hubs', we’re looking at how Reading libraries work with Family Hubs to strengthen early years support for children and families, particularly in socially disadvantaged areas. Read more: librariesrising.org.uk/wp-content/u...

Libraries are playing an important role in Family Hubs. Squish! in Sefton Libraries is one way this is happening! Bringing weekly, artist-led sensory play sessions into library spaces for children aged 12 months to 3 years. 📖 Read the full case study here: librariesrising.org.uk/wp-content/u...

Interested in joining our team as our new Development and Delivery Manager? We’re looking for someone who can help us secure and shape the work we want to deliver, bringing a values-led approach to funding and development. Closing date: 9:00am 8th April librariesrising.org.uk/resource/dev...

Development and Delivery Manager - LibrariesRising

We're looking for a Development and Delivery Manager (Projects) to join our team. This is a new role for the charity.

librariesrising.org.uk

Tickets are now live for our Libraries Rising annual conference Belonging from the Beginning – Supporting inclusive early years practice in libraries Date: 12 May Location: The Studio, Birmingham and streamed online

Happy World Book Day Fancy a game of bingo? To celebrate, how our members, both public libraries and Schools Library Services, have 'gone all in' with World Book Day, we’ve turned their activities into a Library Bingo to showcase all the creative ways our members are celebrating.

Looking to engage children and young people more meaningfully in your library? Here’s a snippet of our useful comms guide resource to help! This come from SparkSpace, our free online learning model co-created with young people and designed for all library staff and volunteers.

How do you actually develop something co-creatively? Our Programme Manager, Lucy Banks, shares her insights on how we approached this question while creating SparkSpace. Read Lucy's reflections here: librariesrising.org.uk/developingsp...

Developing SparkSpace: A collaborative, co-creative process - LibrariesRising

How SparkSpace was developed through co-creating with children, young people and library teams to create confident, inclusive practice.

librariesrising.org.uk

Did you catch Tabitha Witherick on the radio last week? Tabitha was on BBC Kent talking about the launch of SparkSpace and the role of libraries as vital community hubs for young people!

SparkSpace is finally here! Co-created with children and young people with support from Participation People, SparkSpace is a free training platform for library staff and volunteers to help library teams meaningfully engage and empower young people. Funded by the Foyle Foundation.

SparkSpace is coming. 27.01.2026 Here's what SparkSpace can do for your Library teams...

The National Year of Reading has officially launched! Yesterday, Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson officially launched the ‘Go All In’ National Year of Reading campaign at Arsenal Football Club, alongside sector leaders and educators. Read more here: literacytrust.org.uk/news/nationa...

National Year of Reading kicks off with star-studded event at home of Arsenal FC | National Literacy Trust

Beloved authors and football icons inspired local school children to ‘go all in’ on their passions through reading today, as the National Year of Reading officially launched at The Emirates.

literacytrust.org.uk

What a wonderful way to begin the New Year! We’re delighted to share that our Chair, Annabel Gittins and Treasurer, Anna Simmons have been recognised in The New Year Honours List 2026. 🏅 Annabel Gittins: For services to Young People 🏅 Anna Simmons: For services to Libraries

🎉 Congratulations to the 20 libraries that have joined the Libraries Development Framework 🎉 We're so pleased to celebrate every service selected and we look forward to seeing their impact for children, young people and their wider communities! Explore the full list: buff.ly/qE4jRj2

A Checklist for Engaging Young People in Library Spaces (from actual young people) At our recent conference we held a youth panel, to hear directly from young people about what actually engages them in library spaces. We’ve turned their thoughts and ideas into a simple checklist! 😊