In April our Chief Executive Isobel Hunter MBE attended the EBLIDA Conference in Prague.
Isobel has now shared the most important things she took away from the Conference including the importance of pan-European library collaboration.
It is easy for us to underestimate the strength of the foundations underpinning our public library system, Isobel also notes. Many countries do not have what we currently benefit from.
The challenge for our governments, however, is how to build on these assets to create the conditions in which libraries can fully contribute to a forward‑looking society.
🔗 .uk/news/what-i-learnt-eblida-conference-2026
Congratulations to those who have been elected as new councillors!
This video gives you the essentials about the public library – a statutory service that plays a vital role in your community.
#LocalElections #Councillors #LocalGovernment #Libraries
Know Your Neighbourhood was a project funded by @dcmsgovuk created to increase volunteering and reduce chronic loneliness in 27 disadvantaged areas of England.
We worked with @aceagrams to deliver the fund to libraries.
Here are some valuable lessons we learned from the project.
Earlier this month we published the evaluation of Black British Ballet, a partnership with @oxygenarts_uk financed by @heritagefunduk .
As part of the project, Marsha Lowe from Oxygen Arts helped produce 'Onisere and the Ballet Queen', a short animated film taking the viewer on a fantastical journey through the history of black British ballet.
You can watch a clip from the film here, and read the report via the link below.
🔗 .uk/news/black-british-ballet-delivers-significant-impact-libraries
A new evaluation of @aceagrams -funded library grant programmes shows that relatively modest funding can have a disproportionate impact when it is well designed and well supported.
The evaluation found that since 2022 more than half of public library services in England have led a successful application across four programmes, which included our own Microgrants.
Key learning for the sector includes:
📊 Reach and confidence – small grants have acted as a first step into external funding for many services, building skills and confidence to apply again.
🤝 Community impact – projects consistently strengthened partnerships, reached new audiences and supported libraries' role as inclusive spaces.
🛠️ Design matters – clear processes, realistic timescales and tailored support make a significant difference to who can apply and succeed.
The report also reinforces a familiar tension: project funding can unlock innovation, but it sits alongside sustained pressure on core services. Both realities need to be part of national conversations about the future of libraries.
🔗 Read the full report here: .uk/research-and-data/our-research-library/evaluation-small-library-grants-programmes
Come with us to the regional conference for @librariesconnected North West! A day to celebrate libraries and explore how we can continue to evolve, grow and thrive 📚🌱
Libraries from around the region gathered at @manclib_archives where we were treated to informative, passionate and inspirational talks from author, illustrator and animator @curtis.jobling , President of @librariesconnected Ed Jewell, Director of libraries at @aceagrams Luke Barton, and head of libraries, galleries and culture for Manchester, Neil MacInnes.
We also enjoyed creative workshops, a highlight was making sauerkraut with the help of @at.the.library_ !!!🥬
Thank you to everyone that made this day of creativity, learning and reflection possible 🩷
The Know Your Neighbourhood (KYN) Fund was created to increase volunteering and reduce chronic loneliness in 27 disadvantaged areas of England.
As part of the programme, £5 million was dedicated to expanding arts, culture and heritage activities, delivered through Arts Council England, The National Lottery Heritage Fund and Historic England.
Last week a new evaluation of the programme by ERS Research & Consultancy was published, focusing on the Arts Council England strand.
You can read more about the findings via the link in our bio and watch this video which explores some of the stories from the project.
Yesterday we were proud to take part in the launch of the Libraries Alliance, alongside organisations representing all kinds of libraries.
Speakers including Baroness Twycross, Lord Blunkett and Jeanette Winterson highlighted why libraries matter at every generational milestone – from early learning and education to research, work and later life – and why a shared voice for the sector is more important than ever.
🎬 This new animation shows how libraries support people through every stage of life. Credit: @buttercrumblecreative
We're at the stunning British Academy in London preparing for the formal launch of the Libraries Alliance later this morning. Libraries of all kinds are coming together as a unified voice, showing how libraries support people through every stage of life.
The Black British Ballet project, a partnership with @oxygenarts funded by @heritagefunduk , shed light on the hidden stories of black British ballet dancers.
A recent evaluation of the project shows that it delivered significant impact for library services - with 45,000 people engaging with the exhibition and 6,000 taking part in an event or activity.
In this clip Marie Kamara talks about coming to London as a young dancer.
#NationalLottery #HeritageFund
We are pleased to publish the evaluation of Black British Ballet, a partnership with Oxygen Arts financed by The National Lottery Heritage Fund.
The evaluation reveals a national programme delivering significant impact for library services. Data provided by participating libraries suggests almost 6,000 opportunities were created to take part in a programme event or activity.
The evaluation also shows that the programme engaged a wide range of visitors, audience members, and participants. These include people of different ages (from small children to older adults), people from different ethnic communities, as well as those with varying levels of ability in and knowledge about ballet and dance.
Click the link in our bio to find out more.
Culture Nature Now is the latest phase of the Culture Nature partnership between Libraries Connected and @naturalengland .
Building on the success of the earlier Culture Nature England programme, Culture Nature Now focuses on strengthening relationships between public libraries and local Protected Site Strategies (PSS) teams to help communities connect more deeply with the natural world.
Here are some photographs of a recent Alpaca Walk in the Pennines organised by @bradfordlibs !
Find out more about Culture Nature Now via the link in our bio.
