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.

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...

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!

Family photo with Barcelona in the background

Sunrise from the ship coming into Naples

Photo of Pompeii with Mount Vesuvius in the background

Photo of Emily and Tabitha standing under the Eiffel Tower

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.

Photo of Alanis Morrisette singing. Behind her is a screen that reads “81% of women reported some form of sexual harassment in their lifetime”.

Fox walking on London streets

Photo of a main course of Iberico pork chop with an apricot jus and dark grain mustard.

Selfie of Emily and Tabitha standing in front of an old building in Holland Park.

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.

Selfie of Emily and Tabitha with a teenage girl standing next to a model of a penguin wearing a rubber glove on his head and painted themed “Wednesdays Child is full of woe”.

Photo of Tabitha and a teenage girl standing next to a Gromit model like a mirror ball.

Photo of Tabitha and a teenage girl standing next to a Gromit model painted with hieroglyphics.

Selfie of Emily, Tabitha and a teenage girl sitting on a bench next to a model of Wallace painted like Robin Hood.

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

Larry the cat and 3 people outside 10 Downing Street

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

Outcomes for young people • 90% of young people felt more welcome in the library • 100% felt that their opinions, ideas and feelings were listened to • 76% said that the co-created activities helped to improve their communication • 71% gained new knowledge and skills, in digital marketing, creative skills, writing, and library-related knowledge

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!

Three people smiling in the street in London

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.

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

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...

Selfie of Emily, Tabitha and teenage girl outside a theatre. There is a large banner above them that reads “Mary Poppins”.

Emily is standing next to a large image of Mary Poppins measuring tape. She measures between “the holy terror” and “practically perfect in every way”.

A photo of the holding screen before the show starts. It is a scene of London rooftops by night.

The cast list of the performance. Mary Poppins was Stefanie Jones, Bert was Jack Chambers, Bird Woman was Patti Boulaye and Winifred Banks was Lucie-Mae Sumner.

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! ❤️

Image at a train station. There is a train on a platform. There is lots of rain.

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…

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

❤️ #libraries

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…

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

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...

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...

Image of a woman in a stripy T-shirt, black trousers and a Covid mask, stands facing a llama outside of Sidmouth library

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

Photo of Tabitha sitting in a rocking chair in the glow of a sunset.

Photo of Emily eating breakfast in bed looking out over the sea.

Photo of Emily standing by the waves crashing on the shore.

Selfie of Emily and Tabitha on the beach, with waves behind them.

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.

A family photo. The bridesmaid has a huge Cinderella style dress, I am in a three piece black suit and our teenage boy is also in a suit. Tabitha is in a stunning white dress, lace topped and sleeveless. She is holding a bouquet of rainbow inspired flowers.

Emily and Tabitha are filling the photo and grinning hugely.

A photo taken in a mirror. In the reflection is Tabitha dressed in an inflatable unicorn and Emily in an inflatable t-Rex.

Emily and Tabitha are cutting a three tiered wedding cake, covered in sprinkles, that is sat on top of a barrel.

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. ❤️

Four people in a hotel meeting room. They are packing conference goody bags.

A group of people at a conference. One person hold a microphone as they ask the panel a question.

An image of a presentation slide. It asks what are we up against? There are words around the question including inequality, A.I., climate change, sexism, ableism, White supremacy, prejudice, homophobia, poverty

An image of a postcard on a table. The postcard says DARE TO BEGIN

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

Conference room with an audience and two people sitting at a table speaking.

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

Image of an internal glass wall with a grid of post it notes

Image of a table full of stickers and labels

Image of a wall with the quote “The most important thing is to enjoy your life - to be happy - it’s all that matters.” Audrey Hepburn

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!

Have a brilliant day. I’m sorry to be missing it, but I’m pleased we have one of our trustees representing ASCEL. 🤩

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...