The following breakout sessions will be taking place on Tuesday 9 June at 11.05 and repeated at 15.20.

1. Libraries Insight Tool: demonstration and user testing

The English Libraries Insight (ELI) Service is Arts Council England’s most advanced initiative to establish a national digital infrastructure for public libraries. Join this workshop to find out more about how it works in practice.

Led by Sophie Lancaster, Senior Manager, Libraries Development Team, Luke Burton, Director Libraries, Oliver Newcombe, Tech Lead - Library Insights, Arts Council England.

2. Public Library Values

Join this workshop to explore why values are important and how we stand firm when they are challenged. Together you will define a set of unique ‘public library values' and consider how they could be embedded into everyday practice.

Led by Helen Drakard, Membership Engagement Manager, Libraries Connected.

3. Measuring Social Value

The session will cover the broad steps of how to measure Social Value and then have a panel featuring library leaders and academics talking about the specific methods they have used.

Led by Chad Bentley, Regional Development Administrator, Libraries Connected, Vicky Clarke, Head of Libraries, Blackpool Libraries, Prof John Gordon, UEA and James Pearson, Head of Libraries, Registration & Archives, Kent or Russell Allen, Head of Libraries and Heritage, West Sussex.

4. Book Challenges and the Role of the Stock Policy

This is an opportunity to explore the principles and legislation that underpin our work, and how that relates to book challenges and complaints. We will also look at the value of a good stock policy. 

The workshop will explore a real-life example of a library service challenge and its impact, and there will be a chance to share your experiences in a peer setting.

Led by Emma Hoddinott, Director of Policy, External Affairs and Research, Libraries Connected and Ayub Khan MBE FRSA, Head of Libraries, Heritage & Culture and Registration Services, Warwickshire County Council.

5. Social Value in Procurement: how can suppliers demonstrate it and how do libraries make the most of it?

Ensuring contracts demonstrate and provide additional social value to communities, local economy and local environment has long been a requirement in public procurement, and this is further strengthened in the 2023 Procurement Act.

However the nature of the library sector makes it difficult for specialist national suppliers to demonstrate social value locally across geographically disparate library services. 

This workshop aims to bring together library leaders and library suppliers to explore ways we can bridge this gap - enabling libraries to procure the best value suppliers while ensuring suppliers can provide meaningful additional social value in a way that is realistic to their scale, means and geography.

Led by Iain Moore, Commercial Director, Libraries Connected and Rachel Payne, Business Development Manager, Libraries Connected.

6. National Year of Reading Libraries and Legacy

The success of the National Year of Reading will be judged by its legacy. Public libraries should be central to that legacy by continuing to support communities and individuals to reconnect with reading. In this workshop you will develop practical ideas to better understand and engage audiences using the insight research commissioned to inform the year of reading to take away and use in your own service. There will be an update on the Go All In campaign from The Reading Agency and the chance to swap great reading projects and activities with peers.

Led by Sarah Mears, Programmes Director, Libraries Connected, Dr Carina Spaulding Head of Research & Evaluation and Alexander Turton, Senior Marketing and Communications Manager, The Reading Agency.