Who we are
Libraries Rising is the national network for leaders in children’s, public and Schools Library Services. We believe that children and young people need safe spaces and real-life connections to support the demands of modern life. Together, we’re working with partners and supporters to create libraries for today’s world, where children and young people feel understood, empowered and inspired.
With our members we create inclusive spaces where young minds discover stories and discover themselves. The potential is limitless. We create new initiatives and shares ideas that speak to children and young people today, tomorrow, and years from now. Made up of regional networks, we work in partnership to drive collective national impact.
We are creating libraries of tomorrow with children and young people today.
Libraries Rising is the working name of Association of Senior Children’s and Education Librarians. (Our former working name was ASCEL).
Our mission
In a world where children and young people need real-life connections and safe spaces, our mission is to harness vital support and resources to enable libraries to amplify young voices. We do this by co-creating vibrant, relevant and inclusive services, spaces and programmes that empower and inspire.
What we do
We spark ideas and opportunities through training, peer connections, best practice, research, resources and networking. Our members are given the tools and support they need to create exciting, inclusive, and innovative experiences. So, if you’re looking for a supportive network of library peers, look no further.
For children and young people
Children and young people play an important part in creating tomorrow’s library. We work with them to co-create vibrant and inclusive spaces, services, and programmes that aim to amplify their voices.
Our Children’s Promise
Our Children and Young People’s Promise provides libraries with a framework to develop inclusive services, spaces and programmes. We amplify evidence and research to demonstrate how vital libraries are for children, young people and families. Think of us as cheerleaders – we champion the vital, life-enhancing role of libraries at governmental, national and local level.
Young voices
We are a network of library leaders from across the country with one clear mission, creating inspiring libraries with children and young people, not just for them. It’s why we created the first national Youth Engagement Network. Here, young people have a voice in shaping their local library into a space that feels ideal for them. We’re already seeing the positive results – find out what’s been achieved so far.
Are you a young person?
Our values
Aspirational
Progressive
Collaborative
Kind
Inclusive
Our story
Where we started…
Born in 1995, the Association of Senior Children’s and Education Librarian (ASCEL) was founded by a group of passionate library professionals. They saw the power of peer-to-peer knowledge sharing and networking. So, they came together to form a member collective from the ground up to provide advice and support.
Where we are now
Today, we’ve become Libraries Rising – a national collaborative network of over 160 library services and partners – dedicated to creating future-proof libraries fit for children and young people today. In 2022 we registered as a charity. In 2023 we became a strategic partner of Arts Council England, as an Investment Principles Support Organisation (IPSO).
We’re incredibly proud of our history and very excited for our future. Thank you to every person who has helped to create what we are today (and tomorrow).
Where we’re heading
As a future facing charity, we’ve created aspirational ambitions in our new strategy (2026-2030).
These are collected into four core areas of work:
Activate
Amplifying young voices with libraries locally, regionally and nationally.
Energise
Connecting our member network to harness opportunities and overcome challenges.
Champion
Raising awareness and making the case for children and young people’s library services.
Develop
Enabling library services with knowledge, expertise and inclusive practice.
Our member network
Our members are the fabric of our charity.
Together, we create a network of passionate experts leading in children and young people’s public library services and schools library services. Our focus is to listen and respond to our members’ voices, across everything we do. This way, we can provide what they need when they need it to support their work with local children and young people.
Regional Networks
Our regional networks bring together local members to explore opportunities and sharing good practice every quarter.
Schools Library Service Network
Our national schools library services (SLS) network brings together SLS to share good practice, share resources and develop opportunities to raise awareness for the vital support and expertise they offer to schools.
National committee
Our national commitee is a group of representatives from across our member network, including regional chairs, schools library services network chair and universal library offer link members. The group meets quarterly to discuss priorities and emerging opportunities. This helps us to respond to members’ needs and advocate effectively.
Our people
Our team
-
Email Read more
Tabitha Witherick (she/her) Chief Executive
Tabitha Witherick (she/her)
Tabitha joined the team in 2024, after spending 20 years as a Development Manager and Head of Libraries in local authority and charity run library services.
She loves working with libraries as they are constantly adapting to meet the needs of local communities.
-
Email Read more
Lucy Banks (she/her) Programme Manager
Lucy Banks (she/her)
Lucy is Programme Manager for Libraries Rising and leads our Youth Engagement Network. Working co-creatively with children, young people and libraries, she’s passionate about putting young voices at the heart of national policy and decision-making. Before joining the team, Lucy supported reading development for children, young people and adults at Libraries Unlimited in Devon and Torbay. She’s an advocate for inclusive, youth-centred practice and believes that fun, creativity and inspiration should sit at the heart of everything we do.
-
Email Read more
Charlotte Lawson Communications and Impact Manager
Charlotte Lawson
Charlotte brings experience from higher education, the charity sector and most recently the private sector. She has built a career around creating communications and campaigns that inspire action and support positive change. With a strong background in storytelling, community building and championing lived experience, Charlotte is passionate about sharing authentic stories and shining a light on voices that are often unheard.
-
Email Read more
Sarah Gregory Programme Support Officer
Sarah Gregory
Sarah has been part of our story since 2015, bringing a love of learning and discovery from her background as a field archaeologist. Before joining us she worked as an Information Officer, working closely with local authority education departments she developed a deep understanding of how information can connect and empower communities. Using this knowledge she has helped to grow our member community and build relationships, inspiring library staff to create future focused libraries.
Our trustees
-
Read more
Annabel Gittins BEM (She/her) Co-Chair
Annabel Gittins BEM (She/her)
Annabel is a Children’s Librarian and loves bringing this specialism to life within her current role as Library Support Manager for Shropshire Libraries. She worked in academic and business libraries and the charity sector before settling on public libraries after a career break to raise her family. ASCEL has been an important part of her career development and as current chair of the board is enjoying seeing the organisation grow into a sector leader.
-
Read more
Lucy Starbuck Braidley (she/her) Co-Chair
Lucy Starbuck Braidley (she/her)
As Head of School Libraries at National Literacy Trust, Lucy leads the charity’s national Libraries for Primaries programmes, which provide books, furniture and training to schools without libraries across the country . She is a former primary school teacher who is passionate about the development of a reading for pleasure culture that places the library at the heart of a school. An avid comics reader and advocate of the form, Lucy is the producer and host of ‘Comic Boom – The Comics in Education Podcast’, a podcast for anyone interested in the role that comics can play in education.
-
Read more
Anna Simmons BEM Chair of Finance and Risk
Anna Simmons BEM
Anna is Head of Libraries and Information for Luton Libraries and has worked in public libraries for many years, including as a Children’s Librarian.
Anna is one of our founding Trustees, providing skill, care and financial awareness in setting up the charity as Treasurer.
-
Read more
Clover Anyon (she/her) Chair of National Committee
Clover Anyon (she/her)
Clover has worked in public libraries in the North West of England for 20 years and her current role is Collections, Engagement and Access Manager at Blackpool Libraries. Whilst her current role is broad, her main interests are developing and delivering library services for children, families and young people, and ensuring that the library workforce is equipped and confident to deliver these in the best possible way.
-
Read more
Dionne Raymond (she/her) Co-chair of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion
Dionne Raymond (she/her)
Dionne has spent the last 15 years working in education as an English teacher and middle leader in two secondary schools and two multi-academy trusts, and is now transitioning into the world of Payroll and Finance. She is still keen to develop her passion for education and literacy, advocating for the important role that libraries and library services play in the development of a young person’s academic and social development.
-
Read more
Fabienne Tannoh Trustee
Fabienne Tannoh
After graduating from Queen Mary University of London with a degree in History and Comparative Literature, Fabienne moved into the area of central government. She has in the past volunteered as a children’s Library Assistant as well as teaching English to primary school children in a charitable organisation. She enjoys reading and travelling in her spare time.
-
Read more
Harry Twohig Trustee
Harry Twohig
Harry is an equity and engagement practitioner with a background in participatory program design and community-led change. Having started his career in public libraries, he values their role as accessible spaces that foster cohesion, equity and learning. He brings governance experience from trustee and advisory board roles, alongside a strong interest in advocacy and social justice.
-
Read more
Kirsty Ellis Chair of Governance and Staffing
Kirsty Ellis
Kirsty is a Chartered Governance Professional and Chartered Librarian, who is passionate about the role of libraries in people’s lives. She is Assistant CEO of Culture, Learning & Libraries (Midlands), trading as Inspire, where she leads the delivery of the public library service as well as some support services and governance.
-
Read more
Krystal Vittles BEM (she/her) Trustee
Krystal Vittles BEM (she/her)
Krystal is Head of Library Service at Suffolk Community Libraries, having been an inspirational leader in the public library sector for many years.
As one of our founding Trustees, Krystal offers her expertise, clear strategic voice and tenacity in setting up and developing our forward facing charity.
-
Read more
Mark Freeman MBE (he/him) Trustee
Mark Freeman MBE (he/him)
Mark has worked in the public library sector for over forty years. From 2002 he was Chief Librarian in South Tyneside and more recently managed the public library service in Stockton on Tees. In 2018 he became the first President of Libraries Connected as it transformed from SCL. He retired in 2022 and now works on the frontline on a casual basis as a Library Assistant in County Durham.
-
Read more
Nick Fuller (he/him) Trustee
Nick Fuller (he/him)
Nick has been involved in delivering library services to children and young people since he took up his first professional post in Hounslow way back in the last century. He has worked as a Schools Library Service Librarian in Hillingdon and as a manager in Westminster, where he now coordinates the public library services to children and young people.
-
Read more
Sherilyn Pereira Trustee
Sherilyn Pereira
Sherilyn is the public engagement manager for the Stephen Lawrence Research Centre (SLRC) at De Montfort University, Leicester. Her experience spans three decades in developing and implementing communications and public relations strategies in multiple sectors across Europe and New York. Sherilyn is also Co-Chair of DMU’s Race Equality Network.
-
Read more
Thomas Williams (he/him) Young Trustee and Co-chair of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion
Thomas Williams (he/him)
Thomas is studying Politics, Philosophy, and Psychology, with aspirations to pursue Politics and Philosophy at university. He is a passionate youth social activist with over five years of experience working across education, employment, and systems change.
Thomas has been fortunate to share his insights at major conferences, collaborate with national organisations, and contribute to high-level discussions, including roundtables at No. 10 Downing Street and political party conferences. While at secondary school, he ran his school library for three years, an experience that highlighted for him the vital role libraries play in tackling disadvantage, supporting local communities, and combating loneliness.
Driven by his commitment to social change and community impact, Thomas is excited to bring his perspective and experience to the role of trustee.
Our funders and partners
We can’t create change alone, which is why we partner with many organisations, charities, trusts and individuals to champion libraries, amplify the voices of young people and advocate for support in our sector.
Thank you to everyone who helps us do what we do:
Funders
Partners
