One of the highlights of my summer, the pilot of the Summer Book Buddies programme. Thanks to support from @readingagency and working together @Everychildjsy we've been able to keep more children engaged and enjoying reading over the holidays. www.channel103.com/news/jersey/...

A wonderful piece in today’s Jersey Evening Post by my colleague Mark Brocklesby, connecting the British Library’s inspiring UnEarthed: The Power of Gardening, exhibition with a treasure from our own collections.

We have a webinar on 27 August exploring a @readingagency.bsky.social collaboration with local authorities to deliver library-led, Council-wide reading for pleasure strategies. www.librariesconnected.org.uk/events/webin...

Libraries: ‘a vital act of civic generosity’. A beautiful and moving tribute from Bernard Place in today’s Jersey Evening Post. Grateful for this powerful recognition of the role libraries play in our communities.

'It is without doubt a fascinating and challenging time to be a #Librarian', @edjewell.bsky.social remarks looks forward to his second year as our President. Read Ed's thoughts on the opportunities and challenges facing the public #Library sector here: www.librariesconnected.org.uk/news/ed-jewe...

Our President @edjewell.bsky.social has been reflecting on one year in the role and looking forward to the opportunities and challenges to come for public #Libraries. You can read Ed's thoughts below. www.librariesconnected.org.uk/news/ed-jewe...

One year into my time as President of @librariesconnected.bsky.social, reflecting on the themes, priorities & partnerships shaping the future of public libraries. www.librariesconnected.org.uk/news/ed-jewe...

Really enjoyed having a chat with Jim Delbridge on BBC Radio Guernsey earlier this afternoon. If you fancy taking a dive into the world of libraries and my own somewhat idiosyncratic musical taste, it all kicks off at 3:09:10. www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...

Enjoyed Jon Tarrant’s piece in the JEP today on AI, creativity & the value of reading. Literacy isn’t just about decoding text, it’s about curiosity, critical thinking, and the ability to question the world around us. Which is why initiatives like the Summer Reading Challenge are so important.

Closing #LCSeminar2025, @edjewell.bsky.social focuses on the theme of resilience. Libraries, he says, are a particularly resilient 'circulation system' pumping information around the community. Their role going forward will be to strengthen all forms of #Literacy, including around climate.

Absolutely thrilled to give the amazing @buliejell.bsky.social the Libraries Connected President’s Special Achievement Award last night. A richly deserved accolade!

Great to see the Reading Rights interim report, published by Booktrust. An inspiring and practical route map for how we might together build an ecosystem to support early years literacy; williamjoseph.blob.core.windows.net/williamjosep...

Preparing for this afternoon’s BBC Jersey Book Club with @alisonmossci.bsky.social. Today is all about #Liberation80 and what it means to be free.

Great to see Jersey Library's exhibition of former Chief Librarian, Ash Dickinson's work feature in today's Jersey Evening Post. Ash and his wife Eva were deported to Germany in 1942, returning to the island in 1945. #Liberation80 #LiberationDay

Evidence from our members suggests that requests to remove books from public #Libraries are increasing, our President @edjewell.bsky.social notes in this @theguardian.com piece. www.theguardian.com/books/2025/a...

A pleasure last night to be able to join in the celebrations to mark the success of Sasha Gibb’s innovative Common Ground project. An invigorating evening, asking us to think how we can make all our public spaces genuinely shared spaces.

Great morning at the @librariesconnected.bsky.social Innovation Gathering.

A great opportunity to work with an amazing team and a big moment for our development as a charity, as we seek to develop and strengthen our advocacy for public libraries.

Fabulous evening at the PwC Jersey Young Musician of the Year Finals. Incredibly strong group of finalists, testament to the wealth of talent in the island and strength of teaching given by @JsyMusicService.

A great start to the weekend, hosting Mother Tongue Day in the Town Library. A celebration of our island communities’ languages including story telling, music and food which saw the library buzzing with activity this morning.

Heading back towards Jersey after a few days in London, but it appears Jersey came to find me here…

Congratulations to Anita and the Redbridge Library team on the reopening of the Fulwell Cross Library today. Such a vibrant and engaging library that is clearly loved by its local community, including local MP and Health Secretary @wesstreeting.

Pleased to represent @libsconnected at the opening of the splendid new Shenfield Library. A fantastic new build which is already proving extremely popular with the local community. 1,800 visits last Saturday. Congratulations to Juliet and the @EssexLibraries team.

A pleasure and a privilege to be able to join the 10th anniversary celebrations of the Empathy Lab last night. So much we can learn from their invaluable work to help us build the skills to understand each other. empathylab.uk/about

Wonderful to see Catherine Le Long, who recently celebrated her 100th birthday, talking about Jersey Library’s Home Library Service in today’s JEP. If you’d like to find out more about the Home Library Service call 448700 or email [email protected].

A great evening at the British Library, celebrating creative businesses. The numbers speak for themselves. £17 returned for every £1 invested in the Business & IP Network. Just one element that public libraries contribute every day to their local economies. Simply stunning.

It's (one) of my most favourite days of the year! The Libraries Connected Innovation Gathering, a fantastic opportunity to hear about the ground breaking work public libraries are doing and to learn practical tips from colleagues. www.librariesconnected.org.uk/innovation-g...

Great to see our new Children's Library featured in Designing Libraries; designinglibraries.org.uk/case-studies/

Good to hear Gordon Brown speaking on Radio 4’s Broadcasting House this morning as to how we need to take a holistic approach to combating child poverty. Need to ensure librarians are involved in that conversation - as our public libraries can offer vital support to the whole family.

Catch up with yesterday’s BBC Jersey Book Club www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/... As well as an interview with author Kelly Clayton, Alison and I chat about books that can help you get fit and healthy for the New Year (whilst surreptitiously chomping our way through a pack of chocolate cookies…).

That was great fun today - can always lure in a passing librarian with a chocolate chip cookie…

In the JEP this morning, repeating a message I’ve been sharing far and wide; libraries are the essential service - we need to make them a natural home for everyone.

Must be Blue Wednesday, the Library’s staff room table is finally empty of Christmas food…

Follow us and repost if you love libraries, reading and books!

Terrific to hear about the success of Suffolk Libraries' and BBC Suffolk's #BeKindToAKid appeal. Almost 4,000 toys were donated! A wonderful example of the benefits that public #Libraries provide to their local communities. www.suffolklibraries.co.uk/news/be-kind...

Always feels like a moment when the new calendar goes up in the office. Happy New Year everyone! Time to get that empty page filled with exciting things!

Congratulations to everyone from the #Library and #Information sector named in the New Year Honours List. This recognition is richly deserved. www.gov.uk/government/p...

Congratulations Jill! What wonderful news! Great to see your work across the East of England recognised in this way. www.eadt.co.uk/news/2482370...

Fantastic work!

Our President @edjewell.bsky.social gave a speech outlining his hopes for the present and future of the public #Library service back in November. You can read Ed's thoughts here. www.librariesconnected.org.uk/news/librari...

What a way to end the year! We were thrilled yesterday to welcome Deputy Rob Ward and guests young and old(er) to celebrate the official opening of our new Children’s Library and the launch of our new mobile library.

Getting ready for tomorrow’s BBC Jersey Book Club with @alisonmossci.bsky.social. Give you two guesses as to what the theme is…

It was a brilliant day, Nick. Well done to you and Libraries Connected for organising such a valuable event.

Great to be at the Libraries Connected NE library Staff conference with President Ed Jewel and Luke Burton talking about libraries and AI @librariesconnected.bsky.social

Wonderful start to the day. Great to hear about some of the inspirational work libraries are doing in the North East and have the opportunity to catch up with colleagues.

Pleased to have arrived in Newcastle for the Libraries Connected North East Staff Conference. Very much looking forward to meeting colleagues from across the North East tomorrow and joining in what promises to be a fascinating day of discussion & learning.

Wonderful to see our newly refurbished Children's Library in action and to see children and families start making it their own.

Our public libraries already play a vital and central role in supporting young children prepare for school. We can amplify that impact if we take a co-ordinated, multi-agency approach. This briefing shows how we can achieve that;

I’ve lost a mince pie somewhere in the office. We’ve hit that time of year already…

Back in Guernsey for the weekend. Stopped off at the excellent Mill Street Community Cafe for a quick spot of lunch and a look at Tony Gallienne’s new book, Guernsey, How We Live Together.