This webinar will explore the theme of libraries as neutral spaces.  

Our speaker is John Pateman, Doctoral Researcher at the British Library and University of Leicester. John is author of Reimagining the Public Library and his next book Decolonizing the public library is due to be published by Facet in 2026. 

John will invite attendees to think about how spaces are shaped by the people in them, and how we can make room for multiple perspectives. Drawing on over 40 years of experience working in public libraries across the UK and Canada, in roles ranging from Library Assistant to Chief Librarian, he’ll share insights from both his earlier research and his current PhD, which explores the relationship between the public library and the communities it serves.