News - LibrariesRising

2026 conference headline sponsor revealed

News

We’re delighted to announce that BookingsPlus are our headline sponsor for our 2026 May conference. If you’ve ever tried to explain the value of a library, it becomes clear that... Read more

World Book Day in Libraries: Going All In

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This World Book Day, our members, both public and Schools Library Services, have really gone all in with the National Year of Reading’s Go All In campaign. To celebrate, children... Read more

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Developing SparkSpace: A collaborative, co-creative process

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Right from the start, SparkSpace has been about co-creating with children and young people, alongside library representatives and our members, with expert external partners and with the Libraries Rising team... Read more

SparkSpace has launched: A new online learning platform

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SparkSpace is our new, free online learning platform, co-created with young people, to support library professionals and volunteers to better engage, include and empower children and young people. It brings... Read more

Libraries Rising Leaders Recognised in 2026 New Year Honours

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We are delighted to announce that Annabel Gittins, Chair of Libraries Rising, and Anna Simmons, Treasurer, have both been recognised in the New Year Honours List 2026 for their outstanding... Read more

Introducing Libraries Rising

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This year marks an exciting new chapter for our charity, and our 30th anniversary! We're proud to announce ASCEL has become Libraries Rising. Our new name reflects who we are... Read more

Green Libraries Conference: Inspiring Sustainability in the Library Sector

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Tabitha Witherick-Macaulay, our Chief Executive and Charlotte Lawson, our Communications and Impact Manager recently headed to London for the CILIP Green Libraries Conference. The conference brings together librarians from across... Read more

3 people stand side by side outside 10 downing street. From left to right Louis Coiffait-Gunn from CILIP, the library and information association, Tabitha Witherick CEO, Librariees Rising, Victoria Dilly from The School Library Association (SLA) and Isobel Hunter MBE from Libraries Connected

2026 named as the National Year of Reading

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Exciting news for readers of all ages! Our Chief Executive, Tabitha Witherick, represented our members at 10 Downing Street to celebrate the announcement that 2026 will be the National Year... Read more

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A library in every primary school by 2029

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This week Tabitha Witherick, Chief Executive of Libraries Rising and Lucy Banks our Programme Manager, attended a special event at the House of Lords, celebrating the next chapter of the... Read more

Where it all began…

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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... Read more

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