Conference
Power up your knowledge and rise to tomorrow’s challenges today with our help.
Our annual conference brings our network together with experts and young people to ignite ideas, share stories and empower you to take your library service to the next level.
Our May 2026 hybrid conference in Birmingham is coming soon, with full details to be announced shortly.
Coming soon
Date : May 2026
Location : Hybrid, Birmingham
Our conference gives participants a year’s worth of professional development in just one day. Each session is designed to help you leap into the future confidently, knowledgeably and expertly. Every minute spent at conference, creates opportunities and potential, for you and your library service.
For a flavour of what’s to come, why not check out all the great speakers from last year’s conference.
Speakers
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Erin Willson
Kindred2 are running an interactive session on school readiness and how libraries can support children with preparing for reception.
More info -
Professor Laura Lundy
International expert on children’s rights and children’s participation.
More info -
Jo Ruxton MBE
Ocean Generation – ocean advocate, film producer and founder of Ocean Generation.
More info -
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Mighty Creatives – Youth Panel
Hear from a panel of young people about what they think should be priorities for libraries.
More info -
Motaz Amer
National award-winning young activist and inclusion advocate
Sponsor
Thank you to our headline sponsor, Peters.
Why book?
- Access to expert training and best practice for engaging children and young people.
- Opportunity to hear young people’s voices directly and connect with what they think and feel.
- In-person networking and partnership opportunities to create lasting success
- Unmissable shared learning for understanding key topics.
- Real-life case studies, inspiration and tools from peers and young people to take back to your library.
- Horizon scanning of the latest sector trends.
Learn together and from one another as we all navigate challenging times, so that we can rise, grow and succeed.
Sponsorship opportunities
We’re looking for partners to support our first hybrid conference on 12th May 2026, in Birmingham and live streamed.
With conference attendees representing 160 public and schools library services in every part of the country, we can offer excellent visibility for your organisation, to a diverse and engaged audience.
You’ll also be featured on our social media accounts across LinkedIn and Bluesky, and in our newsletter, reaching and engaging hundreds of followers across the country and beyond.
Email Lucy Banks conference@librariesrising.org.uk to discuss options.
What previous participants say
Conference is a chance to lift your head out of day-to-day work and extend your horizons.”
Conference attendee
The golden thread that runs through the conference is always relevant and thought provoking, introducing fresh ideas on common themes.”
Conference attendee
My time at the conference was one of the highlights of my year in work. I had such a wonderful time, met so many inspiring people and left feeling re-energised with lots of ideas.
The conference was jam packed with interesting speakers, workshops and conversations. I truly got something out of each session and have so many ideas to take back to my service.”
Daisy Hogarth, Knowsley Libraries. Rising Star sponsored delegate
Our conference has grown to become a must-attend event. We give a huge thanks to Annie Everall, Sarah Gregory and all past volunteers and team members for making it the powerful platform for library professionals that it is today.