2025 Annual Seminar - Resilience in an Age of Uncertainty

Programme

Day 1 – Tuesday 10 June
09.00	Registration, networking, and refreshments
10.00	Welcome from Ed Jewell, Libraries Connected President & Chief Librarian, Jersey
10.20	Ian Harvey, Head of Institute of Place Management, based at The Manchester Metropolitan University - High Street Task Force, Institute of Place Management and libraries Chaired by Ed Jewell, Libraries Connected President & Chief Librarian, Jersey
11.00	Sponsor’s Flash Film - Open Fifth
11.05	Workshops (see below)
12.15	Lunch break
13.25	Sponsor’s Flash Film - OverDrive
13.30	Amanda Naylor, Chief Executive Officer, Volunteering Matters - Building Resilient Volunteer Programmes Chaired by Ayub Khan, Past President of Libraries Connected & Head of Libraries, Heritage & Culture and Registration Service, Warwickshire
14.10	Sponsor’s Flash Film
14.15	Frank Cottrell-Boyce, Author, Screenwriter, and Waterstones Children’s Laureate 2024-2026 - Reading Rights: Libraries supporting the Children’s Laureate’s mission to ensure every child has access to books’ Chaired by Sarah Mears, Programmes Director, Libraries Connected
14.55	Sponsor’s Flash Film - Lorensbergs
15.00	Tea and coffee break
15.20	Workshops (see below)
16.30	Sponsors’ reception in The Grange
19.00	Seminar Dinner
21:00	Awards Ceremony hosted by Nicola Beckford

Day 2 – Wednesday 11 June
09.00	Registration
09:30	Welcome & Libraries Connected update, Isobel Hunter, CEO Libraries Connected
09.45	Rebekkah Smith Aldrich, Executive Director, Mid-Hudson Library System - Resilience, Sustainability, and the Future of Public Libraries Chaired by Isobel Hunter, CEO, Libraries Connected
10:25	Sponsor’s Flash Film - Axiell
10.30	Ignite Talks: Workforce: recruitment, development, and retention An Integrated Workforce: How Oldham Libraries became Oldham HLA Community Hubs and why this has made us more resilient, Jacqueline Widdowson, Business Development Manager, Oldham Libraries Recruiting library assistants - making the process simpler and more community focused , Jane McKelvey, Citywide Services Manager, Manchester Libraries Resilience and staffing: sharing from experiences, Simon Smith, Reading Libraries and Museum Manager, Reading Libraries Developing the Workforce within Essex Libraries, Kathy Thake, Library Service Area Manager Inclusive Recruitment, Marie Bray, Assistant Area Manager, Kirklees Libraries Chaired by Peter Gaw, Chief Executive Officer, Inspire: Culture, Learning, Libraries
11.10	Sponsor’s Flash Film - Insight Media
11.15	Tea and coffee break
11.35	Sponsor’s Flash Film - Solus
11.40	Panel Session: Community cohesion: engagement, empathy, disconnection Kelly Fowler, CEO, Belong Network, Jon Knight, Chief Executive The Together Coalition David Barclay, Managing Partner at the Good Faith Partnership & Campaign Director, Warm Welcome Chaired by Isobel Hunter, CEO, Libraries Connected
12.50	Black British Ballet Showcase - Kelly Saini Badwal, Head of Cultural Services, Sutton Libraries
13.00	Lunch break
14.10	ASCEL Youth Engagement Network: Building Resilient Networks for Brighter Futures - Lucy Banks, Programme Manager, ASCEL Chaired by Ed Jewell, Libraries Connected President & Chief Librarian, Jersey
14.30	Isobel Hunter in conversation with Cllr Liz Green, Chair of the LGA Culture, Tourism and Sport board - Challenges in Local Government and Priorities for the Future
15.10	Closing remarks from Ed Jewell, Libraries Connected President

Added Extras

New Head of Service Drop in – Tues 10 June, 09:30 – 09.45 Kenilworth Suite
If you are new to the role of Head of Service and would like to meet colleagues in a similar position then drop in for a chat ahead of the start of the seminar.

Black British Ballet Exhibition and VR experience – 10 & 11 June, Kenilworth Foyer

A chance to see and learn more about the physical and virtual exhibition from the National Lottery Heritage Funded, Into the Light: Pioneers of Black British Ballet which is touring libraries across the UK until November 2025 thanks to a partnership between Oxygen Arts and Libraries Connected. The exhibition brings together archive photography, film, newspaper articles and posters alongside new video and audio interviews to trace the history of Black British ballet from the 1940s to the present day.

A moment for me! 10 June, Hamlet meeting room
Grab a 15 minute slot with Sheela Hobden for a ‘sound check’! Sheela is an Executive Coach who roots her work with individuals and teams, in BEING WELL. She is facilitating the MOT4U workshop in the breakout sessions. She supports people to find their own answers, so come expecting to get curious with her. During your breaks, you can opt for a 1-1. Spaces limited, book now via this link to avoid disappointment!

Morning Run 11 June, 07:30, meeting in the hotel reception

Join colleagues for a morning run, distance is negotiable, but we normally pootle around at a gentle pace for a couple of miles.

Download the full event brochure below

BrochureV3.pdf3.09 MB