#Weeknotes - 14/01/2025

What's been happening?

Last week saw the official launch of our Youth Engagement Network interim report. In case you're unfamiliar with what we've been doing, here's a brief run-through of the work:

• Seven library services were involved in the pilot phase
• They worked co-creatively with children and young people, developing activities and initiatives in their libraries
• The children and young people were from marginalised backgrounds or communities
• The focus was on putting children and young people in the driving seat, while introducing them to all the great things libraries have to offer
• The work was Arts Council-funded

The report contains a lot of useful information about this work, along with recommendations on how we proceed with the next phase (which is now underway with 14 more library services).

The research showed that:

• 90% of young people felt more welcome in the library because of working directly with their local library service on specific projects.?

• 100% of participants felt that their opinions, ideas and feelings were listened to and heard and 86% enjoyed the experience.?

• 76% of participants said that the co-created activities helped to improve their communication skills, which will support their future development in school, volunteering and work.?

• 71% of participants gained new knowledge and skills, in digital marketing, creative skills, writing, and library-related knowledge. Bringing in external expertise enabled more opportunities to learn enhanced skills.?

• 71% of library staff experienced increased confidence in developing and delivering co-created projects with young people?

• 86% of library staff feel better equipped to articulate the value of co-created work in libraries as a direct result of the programme.??

• Staff gained a deeper insight into the library from the perspective of a neurodiverse young person and develop confidence in working specifically with neurodivergent and SEND-identifying young people, which is essential for fully accessible library services.?

One key message came through - this approach works. It's not a numbers game, but instead, seeks to connect meaningfully with children and young people, building authentic relationships where power is shared equitably, rather than held by a specific group.

If you'd like to have a look, visit our website. The work was also featured in Arts Professional recently.

What's next?

Next week, ASCEL's first Children's Promise Alliance meeting will be taking place. This feels like such an exciting milestone. We'll be meeting with committed national partners in London to start exploring how to support libraries with their early years provision.

We also welcome Leeds University (at the end of this week) to report their findings from the School Library Service research work. ASCEL members will have the opportunity to hear more about the research and resulting report, and to ask questions.

Outside of work

This weekend, we headed to Somerset again to try to spot more starling murmurations. This visit didn't quite go to plan as we had to park some distance away, then arrived too late. However, it was a lovely wintery walk through the beautiful Somerset Levels, so we weren't complaining. Traipsing the last part of the path in the dark was slightly hair-raising though.

I've been reading like a fiend recently too. I've just finished Mark Haddon's Dogs and Monsters, which was a short story collection, with some of the stories being based on myths. I love short stories and there was a lot to love about this selection. I particularly enjoyed the updated take on the Tithonus myth (the author really managed to make me imagine what it'd be like to get older and older, to the extreme!).

I've just started The Echoes by Evie Wyld. This author is completely new to me and I've been blown away by how good a writer she is. It's about a relationship and the secrets people hold from one another, and I love how it bounces back and forth in time, and from the UK to Australia.