Library Offer to young people

What should young people expect library services to offer?

This is the question that the National Youth Libraries Board, which The Reading Agency is part of, has been working to answer.

The answer that we came up with is the National Youth Offer, which you can download from Resources. The youth offer describes the sorts of services libraries can, and should, be providing for young people and how young people can get involved in running services in their local libraries.

It is based on extensive research, consultation and all the good examples of young people and libraries working together. The National Libraries Board hope that this youth offer will challenge libraries to look again at the services they offer to young people. And illustrate the vital role libraries have in running activities that young people want to get involved with and learn from.

The offer was launched at a national conference on 29 January 2008 ran jointly with The Reading Agnecy and the Local Government Association.

Following this conference, we have written more about the youth offer, gathered examples of initiatives involving young people and libraries working together, and made suggestions for how libraries can campaign to deliver the youth offer. It's in the second of our New thinking series of publications available through our online Shop.

Resources for libraries

In Resources you will find a number of documents to help you understand and deliver the youth offer. These include the:

  • heads of library services PowerPoint presentation to use with your Director of Children's Services and other strategic partners
  • guidance notes to use with the presentation
  • a briefing paper for heads of library services and ASCEL members, about the youth offer and the National Youth Libraries Board
  • an evidence-based research report on young people's views, which inspired the youth offer.

Multiple copies of the youth offer have been distributed to library services and other key partners across the country. Order additional copies through our online Shop.

National Youth Libraries Board

The National Youth Libraries Board is chaired by the Museums, Libraries and Archives Council and is managed by The Reading Agency.

Other members are:

  • Society of Chief Librarians
  • MLA Yorkshire
  • Local Government Association
  • Department for Children, Schools and Families
  • Department for Culture, Media and Sport
  • National Youth Agency
  • Association of Senior Children's and Education Librarians
  • Head of Community Learning and Development at Norfolk Children's Services.