Inclusive Libraries is a series of professional development events, online and in-person, that support educators and librarians to make their libraries inclusive and representative of our communities, both immediate and global.
Developed in collaboration with partner organisations and fantastic speakers on a range of topics, these events are designed to deepen conversations and empower educators and librarians to champion unheard voices.
2026 Inclusive Libraries Conference
Reading is a foundational tool to develop empathy and support education around racism.
We are thrilled to present our second Inclusive Libraries Conference, featuring a line up of speakers and facilitators who will share approaches to conversations around ethnicity, race and intersectionality through children’s literature, as well as lots of opportunities for discussion, practice-sharing, connection and community.
Through consultation, teachers and librarians have told us about a need to develop a deeper understanding of aspects of inclusive provision in libraries such as: Anti-racism, decolonisation, and celebrating and amplifying stories and writers of the Global Majority.*
Content is repeated across both conferences, so register for the event that is most convenient for you.
Spaces are fully funded for teachers and librarians with thanks to Arts Council England.
We request that you inform us in plenty of time if you are unable to attend, so we can offer the place to someone else.
What to expect
The 2026 Inclusive Libraries conference will explore:
- Curating a place of welcome, refuge and learning in the library
- Guided conversations around censorship and challenging racism
- Cultivating space for wellbeing and creativity hand in hand with anti-racist activism
Based on feedback from our first conferences, we have built a programme with more time for discussion and connection, both facilitated and organic. We are all learning from each other, and we want this conference to reflect the experiences, expertise and empathy of the teachers and librarians who form this community, as well as spotlight on inspiring speakers and facilitators.
Line up (updated as confirmed)
Keynote speakers:
Workshops:
Plus discussions with library and education specialists, creative activities and further speakers to be announced - watch this space!
* The term ‘Global Majority’ was coined by educator and activist Rosemary Campbell-Stephens: “Global Majority is a collective term. It refers to people who identify as Black, African, Asian, Brown, Arab, mixed-heritage, are indigenous to the global south, and or, have been routinely racialised as ‘ethnic-minorities’.”
About previous conferences
September 2024: Exploring Race, Culture and Identity with Children and Young People in the Library
Our inaugural Inclusive Libraries conference took place at the start of September 2024, running both in Leeds and London.
We are thrilled to have collaborated with the British Library and Lit in Colour (Penguin Books) on this conference for librarians and teachers working in school libraries.
Read more about the conference in our Library Lifeline blog post from the School Library Association’s Member Development Librarian, Dawn Woods.
Inclusive Libraries Webinars
Previously known as Diverse Libraries, this webinar series has been running since 2021. The webinars are embedded in our Libraries for Primaries programme and campaign, and we also welcome any library staff and teachers based in primary or secondary schools, or in public and community libraries across the UK. The webinars are always free to attend.
Current webinar series: April to July 2026
Follow the link below to register.
Next webinar: 9 July 2026, 4 - 5pm
Previous topics in our webinar series:
You can watch all of our previous webinars here for free.
2025/2026
- See Differently: Creating an inclusive environment for students with vision impairment with RNIB
- D/deafness in children’s literature and libraries
2024/2025
- Representations of Jewishness within children’s literature
2023/2024
- Representations of children, young people and families of Gypsy, Roma and Traveller heritage
- Reading and empathy
2022/2023
- Representations of neurodiversity in children’s reading
- Every reader counts: developing inclusive reading provision and practice
- Handling difficult conversations around representation in children’s literature, featuring Patrick Ness.
2021/2022
- Bringing Diversity to Your Library Collection
- Dealing with difficult texts and promoting anti-racism
- Diversity Beyond the Bookshelf - Engaging library and school communities