We are delighted to welcome Alison Brumwell, Chair of the Youth Libraries Group 2020 and 2021, to share her experiences of involvement with the group, her motivations and some of the issues she feels are pressing in the coming years.

My career has always had books and reading at its core. I can’t remember learning to read, it’s something I’ve always done, though I know it was my aunt who taught me before I started school. I found out many years later, while I was a graduate student, that my great-grandfather worked at Newcastle Library when he emigrated here from Norway. Even though I started out in publishing as a Subsidiary Rights Assistant for Macmillan Canada, it seems inevitable to me now that I would end up where I have. Even voluntary work in Uganda with Africa Educational Trust has been led by my passion for books and a belief that every child has a right to read. It’s what I love most about my current role at Kirklees Libraries, supporting 16-18 year olds and adult learners to develop their language skills.

A big part of my working life since 2004 has revolved around the Carnegie and Kate Greenaway Medal shadowing scheme. I still remember the very heated debate my Carnegie shadowing group had about Mal Peet’s Tamar and David Almond’s Clay and how much the Year Sevens enjoyed Emily Gravett’s Wolves. Their re-imaginings of its cover were on display in the main corridor of our secondary school for an entire term and they were thrilled when it won the Kate Greenaway Medal. So, when I began working as Kirklees’ schools library service’s librarian a few years later, I jumped at the chance to join YLG’s Yorkshire and the Humber regional branch. It was Alison Peaden, now Library Service Manager for Northumberland County Council, who encouraged me to get involved. It would likely never had have occurred to me as I had been previously been a CILIP member and hadn’t thought of re-joining. I became a YLG member in 2009 and went on to become a regional CKG judge from 2011-2014, bringing my shadowing journey full circle. It was the pinnacle of my career to serve as 2019 CKG Chair, during a ground-breaking year for the medals.

What makes YLG so special is the chance to share my vocation (being a librarian is far more than a job to me), having a chance to promote the importance of reading and fostering a love of books with children and young people. I think our membership feels just as I do, which is why many individuals come from sectors other than public library services, school settings or SLSs. There’s nothing quite like discovering a children’s book that you know will be enjoyed and could have a positive impact on a young life. YLG has also given me significant opportunities for professional and personal growth, to make sure that I am an advocate for diversity in my profession and in the literature and illustrated material children and young people are able to access

As Chair of YLG until 2022, I acknowledge there are many challenges for us as a CILIP interest group; including, recruitment and retention of members, income generation, affording our membership quality training opportunities and future-proofing at a time when our profession is dealing with the impact of COVID-19. As the UK economy faces a sharp downturn, it is inevitable that libraries and the knowledge management sector will have to adjust and adapt. Being responsive rather than reactive is key. I am extremely proud of how YLG and the CKG Working Party have worked together to introduce and implement positive change regarding the medals process, making these more inclusive and diverse. YLG prioritise representation of all regions and offer as wide a range of CPD as possible through our annual national conference, day schools and events. We have been able to engage more fully with external partners, like Inclusive Minds and Booktrust, forging new relationships which benefit both our sector and our key stakeholder group: children and young people.

At a time when we might recoil from change or perhaps feel negative about the role we’re able to play, keeping sight of this is crucial. I remember several years ago trying to set up a bibliotherapy group at the Leeds secondary school where I worked. It never got off the ground but the name Reading for Recovery was suggested. One student said she thought Reading for Survival was a better one, which is a testament to the power books have to enlighten, uplift and delight.  Nowhere is that spirit more evident in the work YLG members do every day, through our advocacy, our outreach sessions and the myriad conversations we have with each other about how we can improve life chances for thousands of children and young people. They need us now more than ever and I am incredibly proud of my YLG friends and colleagues for doing their best to deliver positive outcomes.