Young people to shape the future of reading in libraries

We’re partnering with The Reading Agency on a new project, funded by Arts Council England.

Working alongside young people and library services, we’ll be co-creating the future of reading in libraries, developing new approaches, resources and digital ideas to make reading more engaging, relevant and inspiring for children and young people.

This is a two-year project forming part of the legacy of the National Year of Reading 2026.

About the project

Launching in July 2026, the project will bring together library services across nine regions of England:

Camden, Norfolk, North Northamptonshire, Stockton, Knowsley, Kent, North Devon, Sandwell and Kirklees.

Young people aged 10–16 will be involved from the very beginning, helping to shape ideas, test approaches, and design what the future of library reading could look like.

Library services will also take part in our SparkSpace training, supporting teams to strengthen youth engagement and co-creation practice.

Why it matters

Reading for pleasure among young people is still low, with just 1 in 5 (19%) 11–17-year-olds reading daily.

This project will explore how young people and libraries can work together to create excitement and joy in reading, supported by digital tools and creative experiences.

The project will be supported by RamJam, an immersive creative studio based in Brighton, bringing expertise in creative technologies and participatory design to help co-create engaging digital experiences with young people.

By June 2028, the resources, frameworks and tools developed through the programme will be shared with library services across the country, creating a lasting legacy.

Our Chief Executive, Tabitha said,

We know that if young people are going to engage with libraries and reading, they need to see themselves reflected in those spaces and experiences. That means creating genuine opportunities for young people to shape what libraries look like in the future, and how they experience reading. Libraries already sit at the heart of communities, and by listening to young people and building with them, we can make sure they remain empowering and inspiring spaces for the next generation of readers. We’re really grateful to Arts Council for helping make this work possible and excited to work alongside young people and the partnership to explore the opportunities that reading can create.