Universal Library Offer Virtual Conference 2026

Nov 26, 2026, 10:00 AM - Nov 26, 2026, 4:00 PM (BST)

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Universal Library Offer Virtual Conference 2026

Join us to celebrate the innovative work of the Universal Library Offers and hear from library staff, Libraries Connected and key partners as we showcase projects and ideas that will shape the future of libraries.


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UNIVERSAL LIBRARY OFFERS

Positively transforming people's lives through:-

  • Energising communities with inspiring and imaginative experiences
  • Tackling health inequalities and supporting local people
  • Creating excitment about reading
  • Accessing quality information and digital services


VIEW OUR SPEAKERS

Agenda

26 November 2026 10:00 to 10:45

Introduction & Welcome and Universal Library Reading Offer

10.00 — Introduction and Welcome
Isobel Hunter, CEO, Libraries Connected

10.05 — Universal Library Offers Introduction
Sarah Mears, Programme Director, Libraries Connected

10.15 — Universal Library Reading Offer
Introduction from Offer Lead, Katie Gledhill

10.25 — National Year of Reading: Legacy Plans
Sarah Haynes, Campaign Planning Manager, National Year of Reading

10.40 — Case Studies

    • See Myself in Books Festival - Manchester Libraries
    • Walking Books - Leeds Libraries
    • Proud Reader's Club - Liverpool Libraries

10.55 to 11.25 - Roundtables Session

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Sarah Mears
Programme Director, Libraries Connected

Sarah Mears

Programme Director, Libraries Connected

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Isobel Hunter
CEO, Libraries Connected

Isobel Hunter

CEO, Libraries Connected

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Katie Gledhill
West Sussex County Council

Katie Gledhill

West Sussex County Council

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Sarah Haynes
Campaign Planning Manager, National Year of Reading

Sarah Haynes

Campaign Planning Manager, National Year of Reading

26 November 2026 11:45 to 12:40

The Children’s Promise Update and Universal Library Health & Wellbeing Offer

11.45 — The Children’s Promise Update
Tabitha Witherick Macaulay, CEO, Libraries Rising

12.00 — Universal Library Health & Wellbeing Offer
Introduction from Offer Lead, Darren Smart

12.10 — Project Overview: Reading and Dementia

Sarah Lawrance, Publications and Heritage Programmes Manager, Equal Arts

12.25 — Case Studies

    • Chatsworth House Community Tickets - Derbyshire Libraries
    • E-sports - Coventry Libraries
    • Menopause Just a Cuppa - Norfolk Libraries

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Tabitha Witherick Macaulay
CEO, Libraries Rising

Tabitha Witherick Macaulay

CEO, Libraries Rising

Tabitha is Chief Executive of Libraries Rising (formerly ASCEL), the national network of leaders in children’s public libraries and schools library services.

She has worked in libraries for 25 years, is a chartered librarian and formerly Head of Library Service . She has also worked as Regional Development Manager at Libraries Connected.

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Darren Smart
Somerset Council

Darren Smart

Somerset Council

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Sarah Lawrance
Publications and Heritage Programmes Manager, Equal Arts

Sarah Lawrance

Publications and Heritage Programmes Manager, Equal Arts

26 November 2026 13:30 to 14:30

Vision and Print Impaired People’s Promise Update and Universal Library Information & Digital Offer

13.30 — Update on the Vision and Print Impaired People's Promise
Mark McCree, Share the Vision Chair

13.45 — Universal Library Digital and Information Offer
Introduction from Offer Lead, Luke Oakes

13.55 — TBC
Good Things Foundation

14.10 — Case Studies

    • Soundtrack Your Story - Bradford Libraries
    • Travel Cases and Be-bots Coding Robots - Nottinghamshire Inspire
    • Digifest - Norfolk Libraries

14.30 to 15.00 - Roundtables Session

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Mark McCree
Chair, Share the Vision

Mark McCree

Chair, Share the Vision

Mark McCree is Head of Libraries and Heritage for Oxfordshire County Council. He has led this service for over 4 years, having previously been Head of Libraries in Blackpool and, before that, the Senior Manager for Library and Heritage Services at RNIB. In his ‘spare time’ he is Chair of The Combined Regions (focused on resource sharing and discoverability), and Share the Vision, a coalition of pan-sector library organisations focused on improving the accessibility, availability and quality of library services for people with a sight or print impairment. As part of his work with Share the Vision, he oversees the Share the Vision Promise, which sits alongside the Children’s Promise as part of the Universal Library Offers framework.

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Luke Oakes
Cambridgeshire County Council

Luke Oakes

Cambridgeshire County Council

26 November 2026 15:15 to 16:00

Universal Library Culture & Creativity Offer and Closing Remarks

15.15 — Universal Library Culture and Creativity Offer
Introduction from Offer Lead, Rebecca Gediking

15.25 — Project Overview: Music in Libraries
Ariana Ntziadima, The National Lottery Community Fund

15.40 — Case Studies

    • The Library Presents - Cambridgeshire Libraries
    • My Story - Hertfordshire Libraries
    • The Zine Library - London Borough of Lewisham

15.55 — Closing Remarks
James Pearson, Libraries Connected President


Please visit the Exhibit Hall to browse information stands from a range of partners and suppliers.

 
Please visit the Video Vault for more case studies, featuring:

 - North Tyneside Libraries Reading for Wellbeing Project

- Northumberland - Stories From Our Patch

- London Borough of Southwark - The Sound Library

- Blackpool Libraries work on Digital Engagement

- Northern Children's Book Festival

- North Yorkshire Libraries NHS App work

- Leeds Libraries Tablet Loaning Scheme

- Stockport Libraries 'Our Freedom' Project



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Rebecca Gediking
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Rebecca Gediking

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Ariana Ntziadima
The National Lottery Community Fund

Ariana Ntziadima

The National Lottery Community Fund

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James Pearson
President, Libraries Connected

James Pearson

President, Libraries Connected

SPEAKERS

James Pearson

President, Libraries Connected

Ariana Ntziadima

The National Lottery Community Fund

Rebecca Gediking

Luke Oakes

Cambridgeshire County Council

Mark McCree

Chair, Share the Vision

Mark McCree is Head of Libraries and Heritage for Oxfordshire County Council. He has led this service for over 4 years, having previously been Head of Libraries in Blackpool and, before that, the Senior Manager for Library and Heritage Services at RNIB. In his ‘spare time’ he is Chair of The Combined Regions (focused on resource sharing and discoverability), and Share the Vision, a coalition of pan-sector library organisations focused on improving the accessibility, availability and quality of library services for people with a sight or print impairment. As part of his work with Share the Vision, he oversees the Share the Vision Promise, which sits alongside the Children’s Promise as part of the Universal Library Offers framework.

Sarah Lawrance

Publications and Heritage Programmes Manager, Equal Arts

Darren Smart

Somerset Council

Tabitha Witherick Macaulay

CEO, Libraries Rising

Tabitha is Chief Executive of Libraries Rising (formerly ASCEL), the national network of leaders in children’s public libraries and schools library services.

She has worked in libraries for 25 years, is a chartered librarian and formerly Head of Library Service . She has also worked as Regional Development Manager at Libraries Connected.

Sarah Haynes

Campaign Planning Manager, National Year of Reading

Katie Gledhill

West Sussex County Council

Isobel Hunter

CEO, Libraries Connected

Sarah Mears

Programme Director, Libraries Connected