Libraries Connected is excited to announce that nominations are now open for the 2023 Libraries Connected awards. Now in their second year, the awards celebrate outstanding achievement in public libraries. The winners will be announced at an awards ceremony in June 2023, part of the Libraries Connected annual seminar.

We are looking for individuals or teams working in public libraries who have had a positive impact on the library service, library users or the local community. This could by introducing an innovative new idea or by going the extra to mile to provide an outstanding service across our six Universal Library Offer areas: Health and Wellbeing, Reading, Culture and Creativity, Information and Digital, Children's Promise and Vision and Print Impaired People's Promise.

The awards will again be generously sponsored by OverDrive, the leading digital reading platform for libraries and schools worldwide, and creator of the award-winning library reading app, Libby. OverDrive is a regular sponsor of the Libraries Connected annual seminar and has worked closely with Libraries Connected to support libraries during and beyond the pandemic.

The awards are open to individuals or teams and will be made in the following six categories, which reflect the Universal Library Offers (ULOs) and Promises:

• Culture and Creativity
• Health and Wellbeing
• Information and Digital
• Reading
• Children’s Promise
• Visual and Print Impaired People’s Promise

Nominations can come from anyone working in or with public libraries, including volunteers and library partners. The awards judging panel will include leading figures from the libraries, publishing and cultural sectors.

Nominations are now open and close on 31 December 2022. Find out more here about how to submit your nomination.

Isobel Hunter MBE, chief executive of Libraries Connected, said:

“These awards put the spotlight on some of the amazing staff that make the libraries sector so vibrant and inspiring. Libraries have had yet another difficult year, reopening after covid to immediately find themselves supporting those affected by the cost of living crisis and refugees fleeing the Russian invasion of Ukraine. It’s so important, then, that we recognise the incredible achievements of library staff who have shown such resilience, creativity and innovation in the face of these pressures.”

Nick Forster, regional manager at OverDrive, said:

“At OverDrive we see first-hand the critical service libraries provide so we’re thrilled to sponsor the Libraries Connected awards for the second year running. It’s so important to recognise the achievements of library services and their staff, who constantly go the extra mile to bring books, culture, technology and much more to their communities.”