Four national organisations have come together to set out a shared vision for the future of the public library workforce, with a new strategy to guide services, leaders and partners across England.

Developing the future public library workforce: Realising our shared ambitions has been co-created by Arts Council England, the Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals (CILIP), Libraries Connected and Libraries Rising. It provides practical guidance for heads of service, directors and councils, setting the direction for workforce planning, skills development and career progression.

As public libraries evolve as vital community spaces supporting learning, health, digital inclusion and culture, the strategy highlights the need for a workforce that reflects the communities it serves and has the skills to meet changing needs, from community engagement to digital and AI literacy.

The strategy also highlights key workforce challenges, including an ageing workforce and gender imbalance in senior roles. It sets out a response focused on strengthening skills, widening access and creating clearer routes into the profession, with a strong emphasis on attracting younger people through pathways such as apprenticeships. It emphasises the need to promote library careers to a broader and more diverse range of people.

It focuses on five key areas for action:

• planning for a diverse and future-ready workforce
• identifying skills needs
• development pathways
• leadership
• preparing for the future

The partners describe the strategy as a living document that will continue to evolve, supporting collaboration across the sector and enabling libraries to respond to emerging challenges and opportunities.

Luke Burton, Director Libraries, Arts Council England said:

“Library staff should represent the diversity of the communities that they serve. Enabling library workforces to develop and strengthen their skills through coaching, training and research and via peer networks so that they are ready to face the sector’s current and future challenges is paramount to ensuring that public libraries can continue to meet, and exceed, the needs of their users. Working with our partners, the Arts Council hopes that this strategy will help to encourage those working in libraries to undertake professional development so that there is a diverse, inclusive, and future-ready public library workforce in our much-loved libraries.”

Isobel Hunter MBE, Chief Executive of Libraries Connected, said:

“At the heart of every great library is a great team. Libraries are not defined by their buildings, but by the people who bring them to life every day. This strategy sets out how we can better support and value that workforce, create clearer pathways into library careers, and ensure staff have the skills, confidence and diversity needed to meet the changing needs of their communities.”

Tabitha Witherick-Macaulay, Chief Executive of Libraries Connected, said:

“We’re pleased to be working closely with sector partners to explore opportunities to develop the library workforce. As the needs and experiences of children, young people and communities continue to change, the skills and confidence across library teams must adapt too. Supporting routes for young people to work in libraries is an important part of this - greater representation will help ensure libraries are welcoming to all.”

Sonia Ramdhian, Chief Development Officer for CILIP, said:

“This co-created practical framework supports workforce development across the public library sector. It promotes multiple entry routes into the profession and cross-sector learning to support a broader and more diverse talent pipeline. It advocates for inclusive leadership development, succession planning, and the removal of barriers that prevent progression for underrepresented groups. It shows that by working together we can be more ambitious, invest in our people more strategically, and achieve more.”