School Library Association (UK)

10/06/2026

Welcome news from National Literacy Trust this morning, as their latest research shows children and young people’s enjoyment of reading and daily reading habits have risen for the first time in five years. Despite this modest rise, reading levels are still well below those of a decade ago - and there is more work to do!

The latest research confirms that for reading to become more strongly embedded in children and young people's daily lives, it must be relevant, meaningful and supported by people around them.

We know that school libraries are a huge part of making this happen and the energy at our Annual Conference this weekend was a powerful reminder of the passion, commitment and inventiveness of school librarians, who support young people to read every single day. 🙌

Children and young people’s levels of reading for pleasure have risen for the first time in five years, having reached a 20-year low in 2025. Still, reading engagement remains critically low.

09/06/2026

The one you've all been waiting for! We were honoured to close the with a keynote address by Dame Jacqueline Wilson.

Jacqueline brought decades of experience and wisdom to her session, sharing the enormous impact that she has seen school libraries and school librarians make on children's lives.

We also heard memories of her own school library, including a teacher's recommendation to read I Capture the Castle: a book that shaped Jacqueline's identity as both a reader and a writer.

We got a glimpse of forthcoming title Esme Pepper and several lucky librarians took home a signed proof copy. Thank you to Puffin Books for your generosity in organising this!

We can't think of a more uplifting way to have ended the weekend.

Jacqueline Wilson HQ

06/06/2026

Can you guess who put these smiles on the faces of our dinner guests?

Much-loved poet and author, Michael Rosen joined us at our conference dinner last night, where he shared stories from his life as a writer, as well as performing some poems.

It was a pleasure and a privilege to welcome Michael who brought so much wit and warmth to the occasion - and yes, we did have chocolate cake!

06/06/2026

We started another inspiring day at the School Library Association conference with two sessions that reinforced the power of books to challenge stereotypes, broaden horizons and give humanity to people who may have had theirs taken away.

Patrice Lawrence gave a keynote address that revealed the complexities of her own relationship with reading - and the impact of discovering books in which she felt seen and represented.

Using humour to illustrate a profound point, she said: “As a child I never dreamed I could become an author, because I was neither white nor dead.”

Calling on us all to celebrate and champion more books that spark conversations and encourage curiosity, Patrice emphasised the importance of stories that do not diminish young people’s experiences of grief, anger or injustice.

Authors Tasneem Abdur-Rashid and Nicola Garrard picked up the mantle in an in-conversation event that explored the way in which fiction is rising to the challenge of reflecting the experiences of modern day children and teenagers – from homelessness to mental health challenges – and sharing some excellent advice with librarians about ensuring your collection reflects the nuance and diversity within the school community you are serving.

Taking the example of books with Muslim characters, Tasneem said: "There are 1.9 billion Muslims around the world – we’re not a monolith. We all practice our religion in different ways, we are from different cultures, we all face different issues at different times. Sometimes, you might think, 'I’ve got a book about a Muslim character – that’s enough', but you need to ask yourself: 'Is there diversity within my diversity?'"

Barrington Stoke Old Barn Books David Fickling Books

05/06/2026

Jonathan Douglas quoted Ted Hughes' powerful poem Hear it Again in his keynote at our Annual Conference this morning, setting the tone for a day that has included exploration of so many key issues from reading volition, to getting boys into books and supporting SEND and wellbeing through the school library.

With his characteristic enthusiasm, Jonathan hailed the role of the school librarian - telling delegates that the privilege of librarianship is to “pass the key to a new generation" and act as “agents of wellbeing.”

Other highlights today included the one and only Jamie Smart joining us for a conversation about the magic and mischief of reading, creating and sharing comics.

Speaking about The Phoenix comic, Jamie said: “It is an immense source of pride to me that I'm anywhere near The Phoenix, let alone in it, because I would have loved it as a kid. It would have blown my mind.

There's a lot less commitment in a comic - you can dip in and out, and that's kind of what it is designed for. You don’t have to dedicate the next four hours of the day to reading it - but if you love it, you will.”

Jamie also revealed a new character, before leading an epic draw-a-long!

Conference attendees got to know debut author, Iqbal Hussain, who spoke beautifully about his new Puffin Books middle grade title, The Night I Borrowed Time, as well as his own reading journey.

“As a child I loved reading, and I was lucky enough to have a really good library at both my primary and secondary schools,” he said.

“We always had 15 minutes at the end of the day where the teacher would read to us and that was very valuable to me, coming from a lower working-class Pakistani household where books weren’t really a priority.”

Tomorrow we look forward to welcoming more brilliant speakers, including Patrice Lawrence and Jacqueline Wilson 💫

05/06/2026

The 2026 is in full swing! We have kicked off this morning with the opening of our lively exhibition hall, a powerful address from School Library Association Victoria Dilly, sharing positive news from across the sector, and brilliant welcomes from our conference sponsors Accessit Library and Puffin Books.

We were so pleased to welcome Jonathan Douglas CBE, CEO of National Literacy Trust for the first keynote of the conference, sharing insights into the and beyond, as well as his own personal reading journey.

We'll be posting updates and content from throughout the weekend as we go - keep following if you weren't able to join us this time!

02/06/2026

Did you hear our CEO, Victoria Dilly, talking to Naga Munchetty yesterday on BBC Radio 5 live?

Victoria followed bestselling author Cressida Cowell addressing the decline in reading for pleasure. She began by focusing on the power school librarians have to help children unlock the magic of stories, and change the often negative narratives around children's reading – something we'll explore more deeply at our conference this weekend.

Victoria continued by outlining our Reading Reboot programme, which will work directly with Year 8 pupils through school librarian-led social book clubs. The programme launches this year and has been generously funded by the Charlotte Aitken Trust.

You can listen to the interview on BBC Sounds – Victoria’s section begins at 1:41.

https://buff.ly/yFRYz7F

Naga Munchetty features news, experiences, and big name interviews from around the UK.

02/06/2026

In the Summer issue of TSL, YA author Ellen Osborne considers what the best writing for teenagers has in common:

“Two principles are at play for a book to capture the imagination of a teenager. First, it must be recognisable to them. It must hold enough familiarity with their own experiences to feel like it belongs to them. Second – and in enjoyable tension with that first principle – from that place of familiarity, the story must take the reader somewhere new. “

What is your favourite YA novel, and what does it reveal to readers about the world we live in?

At the School Library Association conference this weekend, Dr Maria Leedham and Dr Sarah Mukherjee will lead a workshop on understanding school students' views on contemporary Young Adult fiction - exploring how the worldviews presented in YA fiction might challenge or reinforce dominant social discourses, and the impact that may have on teen readers.

Read Ellen's article here: https://bit.ly/4x10V7f

Guppy Books

01/06/2026

Today marks the start of a busy month for the SLA. At the end of this week, we will be welcoming delegates, exhibitors and speakers to the University of Wi******er for our Annual Conference. We’re so excited to see you all there!

Beyond that, we have a host of events planned for June, including:

📕 An interactive live lesson on 11 June with Barrington Stoke author Tom Palmer, who will be celebrating the first day of the World Cup by talking about how he got into reading through football. He will recommend some brilliant themed reads for children before hosting his famous Football Reading Game.

📕Our Publisher Roadshows are the perfect way to discover all the brilliant books that will hit the shelves next season. From 10 to 16 June, we’ll have three events focusing on picture books, Middle Grade and Young Adult titles. Join these sessions to discover your pupils’ future favourites.

📕As we look towards the end of term, our Library Lead Hannah Clover will host a Twilight Training Session on stock management. This comprehensive training is designed to help you make the most of end-of-year opportunities and ensure your library is fully prepped and ready for the new school year.

To sign up for any of these sessions, visit our events page: https://buff.ly/AjJJipK

26/05/2026

The exhibition hall is one of the highlights of the School Library Association conference and this year is shaping up to be the best yet!

We're delighted to welcome dozens of exhibitors who share our commitment to supporting school librarians and the young people they work with, including Puffin Books, Hachette Children's, Browns Books, Bounce Sales and Marketing Ltd., David Fickling Books, Flying Eye Books, Libresoft and Read for Good.

Headlining our 2026 conference as sponsor is Accessit Library, a Follett Software solution. Accessit is supporting the conference as a part of our year-long collaboration. We sat down with Duncan Wright, Accessit Sales Representative and former School Library Association Secondary School Librarian of the Year, to find out what the conference means to him.

Read the spotlight interview here: https://bit.ly/4v862k1

See you on the exhibition floor from 5-6 June 🪩