On Friday 15th July 2022, the Secondary Librarians and Primary English Leads met at 1 Angel Square for the first ever Co-op Academies Library Conference. The day gave the network an opportunity to reflect on the key components of a values-led library, the texts they stock and how library resources can be effectively used.

There was time dedicated to sharing good practice across the network. There were fantastic contributions from the National Literacy Trust, who explored the power of school libraries, and A New Chapter books, who discussed the importance of representation and inclusive reading lists.

Colleagues from our academies also presented best practice around topics like creating a working library environment and how to choose the right books for students.

The day was a great success and many of the attendees commented on how ‘relevant, inspiring and purposeful’ they found the event. The conference itself acted as a formal launch for the library network- we look forward to future collaborations and further strengthening the links between the academies.