It’s great to be at #LCSeminar2026 This new research from about children and young people’s reading enjoyment is timely! #libraries

Libraries Rising@librariesrising.bsky.social · 4mo ago

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

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

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

Great to be at #FairEducationSummit2025! New #NeighbourhoodToNational Strategy - systems change will only happen with flow between local practice, regional structures and national policy. A healthy reminder that our own mental models hold inequity in place. Change starts with us!

Fair Education Alliance@thefea.bsky.social · 10mo ago

A huge thank you to everyone who joined us at the #FairEducationSummit2025 yesterday!🎉 Inspiring speakers, rich panel debates, buzzing breakout sessions and honest conversations across the room. The day showed what’s possible when we learn and act together. 🫶 #NeighbourhoodToNational

Pretty much impossible to pick just four photos from an incredible familymoon with @tabisw.bsky.social that visited five(ish) countries in two weeks. Exploration, culture, history, language and memories made.

A wonderful 24 hours in London for @tabisw.bsky.social birthday celebration. Alanis Morissette rocked, lunch at Kitchen W8 was sublime and strolling through parks (Holland Park pictured) was spacious.

A fun day in Bristol hunting Gromits to celebrate @tabisw.bsky.social’s birthday. We managed 20 (out of 53) and covered 9 miles.

What a joy to be at Number 10 this morning to celebrate the news that 2026 will be the #NationalYearOfReading! Announced by Secretary of State for Education, Bridget Phillipson and National Literacy Trust. Such an important opportunity for libraries and our partners! Spot Larry the cat

Our CEO @louiscoiffait-gunn.bsky.social was at 10 Downing street, earlier, for the launch of the National Year of Reading - a great initiative for libraries to engage with new and existing readers. Larry the cat was especially eager to get in and get started! www.nationalyearofreading.org.uk

Some brilliant outcomes of the youth engagement network here - the approach definitely does work: Particularly 100% felt listened to - something that’s typically a huge issue for government and gov services @lucybanks.bsky.social #LCSeminar2025

I loved speaking at this years’ Libraries Connected Seminar about our work with libraries across the country, focusing on our collective role in the equitable redistribution of power to children and young people. When we work with communities and bring people together, we achieve great things!

Valuable meeting with Baroness Twycross, Libraries Minister, today. Great to be alongside Isobel ( @ih1968.bsky.social ), @louiscoiffait-gunn.bsky.social and sector partners to talk all things libraries - including the magic for children and young people and the opportunities ahead.

Lifting up the words of this incredible inspiring librarian. “Opportunities to engage and inspire people are equally important in a time when people are seeking to limit society and spread misinformation.” Dr Carla Hayden deserves our recognition, love and respect. www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p...

BBC World Service - The Conversation, Women Inspiring a Love of Books, My ancestors were forbidden to read

Carla Hayden is the first woman and first African American to run the Library of Congress

bbc.co.uk

A wonderful day in Plymouth watching Mary Poppins the stage show. An incredible spectacle with some great performances (a different story to the Disney film, apparently is more true to the book). Always a joy to see live theatre.

Happy #WorldBookDay! Here's a shout-out to all the libraries who are running fun events and activities today - we hope all the children taking part are having fun and enjoying reading!

Here are some brilliant books for your children’s #libraries - and it’s worth adding all of the shortlisted titles too. It was hugely uplifting to be at #IBCawards2025 this evening, celebrating representation in children’s books. Powerful words from the host, founder, judges and winners! ❤️

Inclusive Books for Children@ibc-reads.bsky.social · 2y ago

Presenting the #IBCawards2025 WINNERS! ✨📚 🏆 Democratic Republic of the Congo | Mel Nyoko & Joelle Avelino | Barefoot Books 🏆 Two People Can | Blessing Musariri & Maisie Paradise Shearring | Kumusha Books, Harper Collins 🏆 Destiny Ink: Sleepover Surprise | Adeola Sokunbi | Nosy Crow

Our quarterly team meet up is going to be a bit different today. @ascelnetwork.bsky.social are having a joint team day with the @librariesconnected.bsky.social crew! I can’t wait to have lots of brilliant conversations and shared learning. #lovelibraries

Much needed investment to libraries incoming…

Luke Burton@biblioluke.bsky.social · 2y ago

📢📢Take a look libraries people in England. A fourth round of the Libraries Improvement Fund worth £5.5 million is heading your way. It will enable public library services across England to upgrade buildings and technology. 👇👇

So pleased that ASCEL has joined BlueSky - it’s great to be part of the #library and #education community! ❤️ #libraries

Libraries Rising@librariesrising.bsky.social · 2y ago

Hello, we're excited to be here! We are the national network for senior leaders in children's, public and school library services. ASCEL provides training, peer support and best practice resources to enable our members to give children and young people dynamic and innovative library experiences.

Free in-person event on how to engage the public about data, digital and AI, in London 20 March https://connectedbydata.org/events/2025-03-20-unconference #libraries #infopros #data #ai #tech #digital #ethics

Engaging people on data and AI: An unconference on giving people and communities a powerful say on public sector technologies

Unconferences are participant-driven meetups that focus on sharing, learning and community building. This unconference is for people (particularly inside the public sector) who are interested in…

connectedbydata.org

Opportunity for #libraries to collaborate & connect. Pitch a scalable idea & build a global community around it! ❤️ #NextLibrary Pilot Projects is a funded opportunity for library changemakers - related to sustainability, democracy & play #NextLibrary2025 www.nextlibrary.net/next-library...

Next Library Pilot Projects - The Changemaker Award 2025 - Next Library

We are very excited to announce the first ever Next Library Pilot Projects: a funded opportunity for library changemakers to advance initiatives related to Next Library’s themes of sustainability, dem...

nextlibrary.net

Loved being at the Arts Council & LGA New & Emerging Lead #Library Officers programme Being asked to speak about my leadership journey was a special opportunity to reflect on my career so far & what I’ve learned along the way. I was pretty chuffed that what I shared resonated with many in the room

We’re very proud of our Youth Engagement Network and we’re delighted that more library services will be involved in 2025! #libraries #youthvoice #ACEsupported @librariesconnected.bsky.social @biblioluke.bsky.social @lucybanks.bsky.social @artscouncilengland.bsky.social

Arts Professional@artsprofessional.co.uk · 2y ago

Almost 90% of young people from marginalised groups felt more welcome in libraries after co-creating projects with them, new research has found.

A wonderful honeymoon week with @tabisw.bsky.social in Porthleven, Cornwall. A cliff top bolthole overlooking the sea (hearing the waves 24/7), gentle strolls, good food and relaxation, rounded off with an afternoon tea.

Yesterday I married my love, my one, @tabisw.bsky.social It was a day of love and laughter (and a few tears too … but only happy ones). There are direct thank yous (public and quiet ones) and official photos, to come. But for now, thank you everyone for your love, for our love. ❤️

Heading home from the ASCEL conference knowing libraries have power to change the world & already do for so many #children & #youngpeople Joy & happiness Sadness & laughter Solidarity And a new theme tune! #Libraries are special places #Librarians are incredible people And our partners are epic

Great start to what is shaping up to be a brilliant ASCEL conference. Darren Henley sharing his and Arts Council England’s commitment to and passion for #Libraries and how they can support children and young people. #LetsCreate

Today I’ve been with post it notes and learning from new people - which makes me happyyyyyyy! ❤️ The #Facilitators #Unconference - a generous space - I now have a long list of things to try and books to read!

This was a lovely view on my way home from a special day visiting libraries in Kent. Lucky me!

Fantastic afternoon in Parliament with dozens of politicians and hundreds of library service leaders & allies celebrating how #LibrariesChangeLives by creating opportunities for people at all stages of life www.cilip.org.uk/general/cust...