The Librarians’ Virtual Toolkit 2025: Reading Promotions

Presented in partnership with Libraries Connected West Midlands & Libraries Connected. Supported by Arts Council England. Produced by Writing West Midlands.

Thursday 20th November 2025, 14:00 – 16:00 GMT

PLEASE REGISTER TO ATTEND BY MIDDAY 20TH NOVEMBER

A live webinar, archived at the West Midlands Readers' Network YouTube channel afterwards.

Tickets: FREE but please reserve your ticket in advance.

Those registering will receive a Zoom webinar link in their confirmation email. Attendees will be 'off camera' but can contribute through the Chat and Q&A function.

The Librarians’ Virtual Toolkit 2025 - Reading promotions

The Programme:

14:00 – 14:05 GMT

Welcome: Angela Hicken, Project Manager, WMRN; Jonathan Davidson, Project Director, WMRN
Some words of welcome and useful information from Angela Hicken and Jonathan Davidson of the West Midlands Readers’ Network (WMRN).

14:05 – 14:25

Keynote Address: Jason Vit, National Literacy Trust

In this opening presentation Jason Vit will look at the plans and offers for the National Year of Reading and how libraries can get involved with this key literacy promotion across 2026.

14:25 – 14:55

Support for Book Clubs: Kimberley Sheenan, The Reading Agency

Campaigns Manager Kimberley Sheenan presents The Reading Agency’s range of ongoing support for Book Clubs including the impetus in marking Book Cub Day UK, the Book Club Hub, plus offers and opportunities for reading groups, and ways for libraries to engage in these various reading promotions.

14.55 – 15:25

Reader Development Initiatives: Aimee Hawkins, Reader Development Librarian, Warwickshire; Terry Heath, Library Development Officer, Staffordshire; Angela Hicken, WMRN

We hear from two examples of regional activity centred on reader development and engagement; the Book Bingo campaign in Warwickshire libraries and the Desert Island Books and Reading Cafes initiative in Staffordshire, as we discuss creative ideas, project planning, delivery, learning and impact.

15:25 – 15:50

Supporting Libraries; Liz Berry, poet and library advocate, in conversation with Jonathan Davidson, WMRN

Liz Berry is an award-winning poet strongly influenced by her upbringing in the Black Country district of the West Midlands. She is also a passionate advocate of a free public library service, and with fellow writer Catherine O’Flynn, produced The Brum Library Zine as part of a campaign to support public libraries in Birmingham. She will talk about why libraries are so important and how writers can do their bit to keep libraries going.

15:50 – 15:55

Summing Up; Ideas for Action: Sue Ball, Libraries & Arts Manager, Staffordshire

Having followed the afternoon’s presentations and discussions, Sue Ball will offer a brief summing up of what was learned and propose ways forward for public libraries in the West Midlands and beyond.

15:55 Farewell: Angela Hicken and Jonathan Davidson, WMRN
A thank you to everyone and any final pieces of information from Angela Hicken and Jonathan Davidson of the West Midlands Readers’ Network (WMRN).

Biographies of speakers and presenters:

Sue Ball MBE, Libraries and Arts Manager, Staffordshire.

Sue Ball is Libraries and Arts Manager at Staffordshire County Council. Sue has worked in public libraries for over 30 years and has worked as a Mobile Librarian, Schools & Children’s Librarian, District Librarian & Libraries Development Manager. Sue is a former chair of ASCEL and is a Trustee of ASCEL & CILIP.

Liz Berry, poet

Liz Berry is an award-winning poet and author of the critically acclaimed collections Black Country (Chatto, 2014); The Republic of Motherhood (Chatto, 2018); The Dereliction (Hercules Editions, 2021) a collaboration with artist Tom Hicks; and most recently The Home Child (Chatto, 2023), a novel in verse. Liz’s work, described as “a sooty soaring hymn to her native West Midlands” (Guardian), celebrates the landscape, history and dialect of the region. Liz has received the Somerset Maugham Award, Geoffrey Faber Memorial Prize, The Writers' Prize and two Forward Prizes. Her poem ‘Homing’, a love poem for the language of the Black Country, is part of the GCSE English syllabus.

​

Jonathan Davidson, Writing West Midlands

Jonathan has spent many years encouraging writers and readers to be creative. He is Founder of the Birmingham Literature Festival and Founder and Chief Executive of Writing West Midlands. He is a Trustee of the National Association of Writers in Education, serves on the Advisory Groups of The Poetry Business, Out on the Page, The Poetry Pharmacy and the Muslim Arts & Culture Festival and on the Governance and Road Map Committees of the Birmingham & Midland Institute.

Aimee Hawkins, Reader Development Librarian (Adults), Warwickshire Libraries

Aimee’s passion for libraries started when she was a Saturday girl for Leicestershire Libraries whilst studying at school. It was her love of working in her local library that inspired her to study for her degree in Information and Library Studies at Aberystwyth University (2008-2011). Aimee's current role is very wide and varied - from organising and hosting author events, managing social media channels, buying stock, managing the Reading Group Collection and creating and implementing reader development initiatives.

Terry Heath, Staffordshire Library and Information Service

Terry has worked for Staffordshire Libraries for over 30 years in various roles and is currently employed as a Library Development Officer. Based in North Staffordshire, covering Newcastle and the Staffordshire Moorlands areas, Terry is always keen on finding new ways to engage readers (children and adults) through a range of reading initiatives and is also the rep for the West Midlands libraries at the national Libraries Connected Books and Reading meetings.

Angela Hicken, West Midlands Readers’ Network

Angela was Portsmouth’s Reader Development Librarian before joining Hampshire County Council in 2006 as a Literature Development Officer, working across libraries, arts, museums, and less traditional venues to devise and manage literature events and local writer development opportunities. She worked closely with The Reading Agency on its Reading Partners consortium. Angela was an Advisor to the Winchester Poetry Festival Board from its inception until 2018 when she made the move to the Midlands. Angela also works part-time as Marketing and Operations Manager at Nine Arches Press.

Kimberley Sheenan, The Reading Agency

Kimberley Sheehan is a Campaign Manager for national reading charity, The Reading Agency. She is the strategic lead for the publisher membership offer, The Reading Agency Connects as well as the Book Club Hub and the upcoming Book Club Day UK on 11 September. She works with publisher and prize partners to create and manage accessible and engaging campaigns marketed at librarian, teacher and book club networks to get people fired up about reading and encourage more people to read for pleasure.

Jason Vit, National Literacy Trust

Jason has worked for education charities for over 15 years and currently manages the network of 20 National Literacy Trust Hubs around the UK, developing innovative approaches to raising literacy levels in some of the most deprived communities in the country. He also delivers National Literacy Trust consultancy support to help organisations develop their own multiagency responses to the literacy challenge. Previously he worked with young people to develop their communication skills through public speaking and debate training, in the UK and internationally. He is passionate about the power of education to tackle poverty and social inequality.