We're working in partnership with ASCEL on their Arts Council England funded Library Development Initiative. The national Creative Development Seminar and 9 regional workshops provide the groundwork to support and encourage libraries to extend volunteering and co-production opportunities for young people beyond the Summer Reading Challenge and throughout the year. This initiative supports work with Libraries Connected and ASCEL to develop Reading Activists, the youth innovation strand of the Universal Reading Offer.

The Creative Development Seminar in September 2012 highlighted best practice across libraries, museums and the arts in involving young people in shaping the kinds of services they want and will use. Phil Redmond gave the keynote address on why youth literacy is so important. Presenters included young people and practitioners for Corali Dance, A New Direction, Gainsborough Community Library Youth Club and Gateshead Reading Activists. Librarians, creative practitioners, youth workers and young people debated youth co-production issues and explored new ways of working together.

Between November 2012 and January 2013, 9 regional seminars brought together 74% of library authorities, 23 arts and youth organisations and 23 young people to explore youth co-production and volunteering models. See below for the main ASCEL LDI presentation given by Claire Styles, our Young People Programme Manager, and other regional seminar presentations given by librarians, and youth co-production practitioners.

You can also download these presentations.