New Skills for the Future Library Leader
CILIP is working on the New Skills for the Future Library Leader training, funded by Arts Council England. The project aims to prepare a workforce of emerging and aspiring leaders in public libraries in England who are trusted in decision-making
roles to deliver high quality library services of the future. The leadership-based capacity building programme is being developed to equip public library workforce with two key skillsets:
• Digital skills – a training piece to support the role of the library as a portal for digital access, from basic skills and digital information services to understanding and interacting with AI. This links with the new
skills needs identified in the ‘Come Rain or Shine’ report.
• Futures literacy – using the UNESCO Futures Literacy framework and the CILIP Future Libraries toolkit, this training set will enable library leaders to develop agile strategies for future development suitable to
their local needs.
The first phase is focusing on sector-led consultations to scope out the audience, structure and content of for the training programme, and a comprehensive design, development and dissemination plan. This will be followed
by commissioning of specialist learning providers to develop the content for the training that will be user tested through a pilot group of public library workers represented by the CILIP Public and Mobile Library Community of
Practice. The project commenced in December 2024 and will end in March 2026
New Skills for the Future Library Leader
Unlocking eBooks
CILIP has been commissioned by Knowledge Rights 21 (KR21) to deliver the Unlocking eBooks project. The project aims to achieve fair sales practice, copyright reform, and governmental support for libraries, education and research
for digital content. The six-month project has two phases:
Phase 1: Research
Literature Review: The literature review appraises existing research on the broad impacts of libraries on economic, social, cultural, and educational development. Current challenges with e-book provision are explored.
Case for support: The case for support synthesises research from the literature review to create an accessible, compelling and evidence-backed advocacy document.
Phase 2: Lobbying and influencing
Advocacy work to promote the research findings and recommendations to policy makers and parliamentarians.
Unlocking eBooks page
Future Libraries
Future Libraries is a two-part initiative that will challenge and engage Librarians and library leaders to reimagine libraries in a world of climate change, population shift, and digital advancement.
Future Libraries is comprised of 'Come Rain or Shine: Come rain or shine: Preparing public libraries for the future in an age of uncertainty' and 'Future Libraries Toolkit' that contains the
practical framework for your library to scan the horizon for strategic and agile thinking.
Future Libraries is funded by Arts Council England and is being developed in collaboration with Libraries Connected, the British Library and Shared Intelligence.
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