NEWS Arts Council keeps development role
LIBRARIES minister Baroness Twycross has said that Arts Council England will remain as the public li- brary sector’s development agency. She also said that the long-awaited public libraries strategy should be published soon. In a speech (
https://tinyurl.com/54mxhndp) at the Libraries Con- nected conference on June 10 she addressed a significant unknown raised by the Hodge Review of the Arts Council, which suggested that the public libraries development role should pass to the British Library. Baroness Twycross said: “One thing I did want to say ahead of us publishing the Libraries Strategy formally is to give you some assurance about the national development agency function.
“After consideration and discussion with the Arts Council, sector bodies and the British Library, and with a number of representations from some of you in the room, we have decided to retain the function with the Arts Council. The Arts Council are really keen to keep this function as well. “We know that there is work to be done together to under- stand what the sector wants from its development agency and to build a refreshed offer that serves your needs. But I hope that this allays any concerns you may have had and we look forward to taking the next steps on this together.” Commenting on the timing of the public libraries strategy, she said: “We had hoped that we’d be able to unveil the strategy today. We’re not quite there, but hopefully we’ll get there soon.” Later in the speech she said: “Over the next five years I want the ambitions outlined in our strategy to shape our work plan for the future. I want us to work together to real- ise these ambitions.”
Baroness Twycross. Photo © Nicola Tree
Sonia Ramdhian, CILIP’s Chief Development Officer, said: “We welcome the clarity that this brings ahead of the pub- lication of the forthcoming Libraries Strategy and that we (CILIP) look forward to continuing to work with ACE in delivering and supporting Workforce Development through guidance and skills for the sector.”
Isobel Hunter, CEO of Libraries Connected said: “This is a hugely positive outcome for the sector. This decision reflects the strength of feeling across our membership, and we are grateful to the minister and her team for taking those views on board. “This follows a period of discussion prompted by the Hodge Review, in which Libraries Connected set out our members’ concerns about the potential impact of moving the role to the British Library. The announcement was met with clear enthusiasm from heads of service in the room. We look forward to working with ACE and partners to strengthen and reshape the development role for the future.”
Librarian-developed app expansion plan
AN APP developed by librarians in London to give people a “Couch to 5k for reading” experience is to be rolled out to libraries across the country as part of the National Year of Reading 2026. The Read On app, originally developed by librarians from
London Libraries – the capital’s network within national charity Libraries Connected – combines curated recommen- dations, reading challenges, quizzes and personalised plans to help people build reading into everyday life. Following a successful launch in London, the app has been
refined with user feedback to make it easier to stay motivated and develop lasting reading habits. With the support of LibraryOn grant funding delivered by the British Library, Read On is being rolled out across the North West, North East, East Midlands, and Yorkshire and Humber, alongside individual services including Essex and Lincolnshire. Each area will offer a tailored version of the app (which includes an integrated map) with users able to select their local service and access region-specific content, includ- ing events and recommendations – strengthening the link
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between digital discovery and local libraries. The launch comes just ahead of the summer holidays, when reading often increases. The Read On team hope it will help turn a seasonal habit into a lasting one, supported by strong evidence that reading for pleasure enhances mental health by reducing stress and strengthening emotional wellbeing. Rachel Levy, Head of Barbican and Community Libraries,
said: “Since launching, we’ve continued to build on user feedback so the app feels even more intuitive, engaging and relevant – and expanding it across England means many more people can now benefit. Librarians are the experts in reading for plea- sure, and Read On puts that expertise in people’s pockets.” Isobel Hunter MBE, Chief Executive of Libraries Connect-
ed, said: “The National Year of Reading is all about making reading a natural and enjoyable part of everyday life for more people. Read On is a practical way to support that ambition – helping adults find stories that excite and inspire them, and rediscover the joy of getting lost in a good book. By expanding it across England, we can help more people develop a lasting reading habit.”
Read On is available now from Google Play or App Store. June-July 2026
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