A new CILIP training resource to empower the next generation of public library leaders in England

Our new professional development programme New Skills for the Future Library Leader is designed to prepare the next generation of leaders in England's public libraries. The initiative, commissioned by CILIP and funded by Arts Council England, has an ambitious target - to train one thousand participants by March 31, 2026.

This course, developed with training provider Artefacto, helps aspiring and emerging public library leaders build key strategic skills. Participants learn to assess user needs, adapt their approach, and influence service delivery while aligning local strategies with global trends. As many experienced staff near retirement, the program prepares new leaders with the confidence, skills, and insight to guide libraries through a changing future.

New Skills is built around two online modules - Digital Skills and Futures Literacy - each addressing critical areas identified through the Arts Council England's Future Libraries project and its 2023 horizon-scanning report Come Rain or Shine. This report underscores the importance of leadership development, digital inclusion, and futures literacy as essential competencies for a sustainable public library system.

New Skills for the Future Library Leader – the modules

Digital Skills explores the evolving role of libraries as gateways to digital inclusion, from providing basic digital literacy and information services to engaging with emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence. Participants will learn how to link digital skills development with core library values, including equity, ethics, and inclusion, while helping lead the digital transformation of their services.

Futures Literacy draws on the UNESCO Futures Literacy framework and the CILIP Future Libraries toolkit to help participants develop agile, forward-looking strategies. Learners will explore how to anticipate and respond to emerging community needs, test strategies against possible future scenarios, and cultivate imagination and creativity as tools for resilience.

Both modules feature an assessment framework to measure participants' understanding and progress, ensuring tangible learning outcomes. The programme builds on research conducted earlier this year by Evidence to Action, which assessed current training provision and identified key gaps in leadership development within the public library sector. The research recommended linking leadership training to core library values, sharing practical tools for immediate application, and building a community of practice to foster peer support and knowledge exchange.

Digital Skills can be completed in two hours, and Futures Literacy in under ninety minutes. The course is self-paced and can be completed in sections based on your capacity. You will receive a downloadable certificate upon completion.

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Luke Burton, Director of Libraries at Arts Council England, emphasised the importance of investing in leadership skills:

"As the national development agency for public libraries in England, we know how important it is to fund resources to help library leaders acquire the skills to understand new and emerging technology and how it can be used to support their colleagues and local communities. So, I'm pleased to see the New Skills for the Future Library Leader training modules are now being made available.

"While we understand library leaders need to deal with the immediate concerns and opportunities facing them, it is also essential that they are able to plan effectively for the long term. Libraries and those working in them can be critical to addressing the opportunities and challenges that new technologies bring and which have a role to play in tackling some of the big issues facing society."

Louis Coiffait-Gunn, Chief Executive of CILIP, highlighted the broader vision behind the initiative:

"Public libraries are at the heart of every local community, connecting people to knowledge, creativity, and opportunity. As we navigate an era of rapid technological and social change, strong and forward-thinking library leadership is essential. This programme gives emerging leaders the confidence and skills to shape impactful strategies that are both locally relevant and globally informed."

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By investing in new and aspiring leaders, CILIP aims to secure a future-ready, innovative, and inclusive public library workforce, one that continues to champion access to information, community learning, and the enduring values of public service.

Please note: Due to the funding structure this course is free to attend for all public library staff members in England only and funded by Arts Council England.

Watch this short video for an overview of this free professional development opportunity

Visit our future libraries page