Research shows that when children read for pleasure they get better grades at school, show more empathy towards others and report higher levels of wellbeing.
Sadly, many children don’t have access to the magic of books at home. And - shockingly - 1 in 7 UK primary schools do not have a library or library space.
The Libraries for Primaries campaign is working to address this issue.
Background
Founded in November 2021 by the National Literacy Trust and Penguin Books, the Libraries for Primaries campaign is a group of organisations who work to address the chronic lack of investment in UK primary school libraries.
We have successfully transformed over 1,500 libraries and trained over 3,000 teachers and support staff. The next phase of our campaign is to ensure that every primary school in the UK has dedicated library space. To achieve this ambition, we need your support!
The next phase of our campaign is to ensure that every primary school in the UK has a library or dedicated library space.
Our partners include Arts Council England, Bloomberg, Foyle Foundation, Oxford University Press, The Portal Trust, The Unwin Foundation, The Julia Rausing Trust, and (at the time of writing) 30 supporting organisations
How you can get involved
“As the Children’s Laureate, I included a child’s right to access new books in schools and libraries in my Children’s Charter, and the fact that hundreds of thousands of children in the UK are being denied that right is devastating. How can a child learn to read for the joy of it if their parents cannot afford books, and their primary school does not have a library? It’s a social mobility time bomb. Libraries transform school life far beyond the library doors. They boost attainment, ambition, and attention in the classroom; and improve well-being, alongside increased empathy, confidence and self-worth. Libraries are a space that nothing else can replicate, and the results are clear: they are an intervention that works. We must work together to change this story and put a library and a librarian in every school.”
Cressida Cowell, author, former children’s laureate and National Literacy Trust Ambassador
"Primary school libraries are the key way for children from ALL backgrounds to discover the books of their dreams. With one in eleven children on Free School Meals not owning a book of their own, it can sometimes be the only way. It's shocking, therefore, that 1 in 7 primary schools doesn't have a library. Schools lucky enough to have libraries often aren't able to update their stock with the wonderful, exciting new books that are coming out. If we're to have a future generation of lifelong readers who come from all walks of life, this has to change. Right now, there are young readers out there, who are missing out on the book that was meant for them."
Nazneen Ahmed Pathak, author and Primary School Library Alliance Ambassador
"I firmly believe that ALL children, no matter their family circumstances and regardless of where they live or what school they attend, deserve the opportunity to reap the massive positive benefits of reading for pleasure. That's why every primary school in the UK needs a school library."
Jen Carney, author and Primary School Library Alliance Ambassador
"It’s no secret that we love libraries, in fact we wrote a whole book featuring a heroic librarian! But it’s so important that all children have access to a great library at school. It’s the place we both learned to love reading and stories - something we now know is massively important for all kids, whatever they grow up to be and do. The skills they learn at the library will set them up for life - and everyone deserves that chance."
Greg James and Chris Smith, authors and Primary School Library Alliance Ambassadors
Report illustrations by Alicia Fernandes.