Claire Styles

Claire manages the national young people's change programme for libraries; supporting libraries to implement the Library Offer - public libraries' response to Aiming High. She is passionate about youth participation, leading on a range of programmes which currently engage more than 8,000 11-19 year olds. Her role includes supporting the strategic Youth Libraries Board; overseeing the innovative youth-led HeadSpace project and Participate service transformation programme; as well as supporting change for young people across 3 regions. Claire worked in inner-city library services for 11 years before becoming a cultural sector consultant in 2006. She has been with The Reading Agency for 2 years. Claire was the 2005/07 libraries Clore Leadership Fellow and is an RSA Fellow.

Detail session 4

New windows - libraries engaging with young people (Members session)

What should young people expect library services to offer? This is the question that the National Youth Libraries Board, which The Reading Agency is part of, has been working to answer. The session will describe the sorts of services libraries can, and should, be providing for young people and how young people can get involved in running services in their local libraries. Examples of best practice will be given on what has been achieved so far through HeadSpace and other models. It will identify some ways in which members can support the Youth Offer within their authorities.

Young people, volunteering & accreditation

Key government policy, new funding streams and the statutory duty to provide local positive activities, all point to an urgent imperative to involve young people in library services. Dr Terry Ryall, CEO of V, the leading national charity for youth volunteering, sounds a compelling call to action for libraries to engage young volunteers during an economic crisis which is having a catastrophic effect on young people's employment chances. Claire Styles from The Reading Agency argues that reading-based volunteering is the answer; whilst Ben Haydock talks about his personal journey from young volunteer to the start of a promising career with Bolton libraries.