New Skills for the Future Library Leader

In 2023, Arts Council England funded the Future Libraries project. The accompanying report 'Come Rain or Shine' identifies Leadership Development as an important opportunity to renew the public library workforce especially for those at early career stages.

CILIP has developed a leadership-based online training programme to equip the public library workforce in England with skills in two specific areas:

• Digital skills — recognising the role of the library as a portal for digital access, from basic skills and digital information services to understanding and interacting with AI.
• Futures literacy — using the UNESCO Futures Literacy framework and the CILIP Future Libraries toolkit, this module supports the development of strategies to meet future local needs.

To develop the content for these modules, CILIP commissioned Artefacto to develop and design the training, based on sector research conducted by Evidence to Action earlier this year. New Skills for the Future Library Leader was commissioned by CILIP with funding from Arts Council England.

The modules

Each module incorporates a baseline assessment framework to evaluate participants' understanding of the topics before and after the training, ensuring measurable learning outcomes.

Digital Skills

This modules aims to:

Support learners in understanding the role of the library as a portal for digital access and how they, as emerging and aspiring leaders, can help facilitate this role.

Demonstrate how digital skills and knowledge link to the goals and values of libraries, including equity and inclusion, ethics, and being a safe and supportive space for all.

Equip learners with the strategic skills and confidence needed to contribute to digital transformation in their libraries.

Help learners understand the role of digital trends and technologies including AI and explore their potential impact on the delivery of the library services.

Futures Literacy

This modules aims to:

Help learners understand the concept and benefits of Futures Literacy in the planning and delivery of their work in public libraries.

Provide learners with tools to support the development of agile strategies for future development.

Help learners recognise the value of imagination and creativity in improving resilience and the ability to navigate uncertainty.

Help learners practice testing their own library strategies against future scenarios.

This training is aimed at all emerging and aspiring leaders in public libraries in England.

Your head of service or line manager will need to support your application. You will be asked to add their name when you fill out the form. Please ensure that you have confirmed this with them before expressing your interest.

Sign up now to express your interest and be the first to access the training when it launches on Thursday 13 November 2025.

The training will be delivered through our online training platform CILIP Learn.

Project links related to New Skills for the Future Library Leader:

Partner with us

If you are a funder working in the sector or a partner organisation with a great idea for a collaborative project, we want to hear from you. Please get in touch with our research team, at researchanddevelopment@cilip.org.uk

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