Poverty Proofing© Libraries is a pioneering Arts Council England-funded project that will help libraries become more welcoming to families experiencing poverty. It is a partnership between Libraries Connected and charity Children North-East, whose unique Poverty Proofing© methodology will be used to identify barriers preventing low-income families from accessing the full range of services that libraries provide.

Funded by a grant of £49,770 from Arts Council England, Children North East will carry out a full Poverty Proofing© audit of libraries in Gateshead, Oldham and Cornwall. The process will involve talking to staff and library users as well as in-depth discussions with people affected by poverty who don’t currently use the libraries, including "mystery shopper" visits.

This new qualitative research will be combined with existing evidence to develop a series of bespoke recommendations that will help the libraries to improve access, participation, experience and long-term engagement for low-income families. Each participating library service will receive an in-depth report and information will be used to develop a framework that all libraries can use to reflect on their own practice and also may lead to further poverty proofing projects.