This week’s round-up includes everything from important research to inspiring awards. Read on for our selection of the stories you don't want to miss, from the education, publishing and library sectors.
New research from the National Literacy Trust, released this week, paints a stark picture of young people's relationship with reading. Based on responses from 114,970 children and young people aged 5 to 18, the findings reveal that reading enjoyment is at its lowest point in 20 years, with just 1 in 3 children and young people aged 8 - 18 saying they enjoy reading 'very much' or 'quite a lot' in their free time. Daily reading rates have also plummeted to fewer than 1 in 5 young people - the lowest levels ever recorded.
The research shows that even among the youngest children aged 5 to 8, daily reading rates have dropped significantly. However, there are glimmers of hope: children remain motivated by material that connects to their favourite films or TV series, matches their interests, and - crucially - when they have the freedom to choose what they read. This reinforces what we heard so loudly and clearly about the importance of agency in reading choice at our recent SLA conference, and brings to mind the excellent work done by SLA Member Librarian Sam Smith in engaging boys in books and reading with his Football Hub. We loved the pupil feedback that Sam shared from one Year 8 boy: “Man this Library is a W now!”
Never has the ongoing support of a knowledgeable and empathetic librarian been more vital to help children and young people reach their full potential and discover the books that will bring them joy.
The Government Spending Review was also released this week, and as schools look ahead to potentially streamlined budgets, it's so important that we shore up our work around advocacy. To do this we need your stories and case studies - please share them with us! Your experiences and evidence of impact are crucial in demonstrating the vital role school libraries play in delivering an ‘excellent education’ for every child.
In other policy news, the SLA recently contributed to a statement urging the government to prioritise Media and Information Literacy in its upcoming Curriculum Review. The joint statement, co-ordinated by MILA responds to the government's Curriculum and Assessment Review interim report, arguing that media and information literacy should have "the same status and attention as reading and writing."
School librarians bring unique expertise to MIL education, being perfectly placed to integrate information literacy skills throughout subject areas. Many school library professionals play a vital role in teaching media literacy, critical thinking and digital skills, and we have called on the government to acknowledge how proper support and funding for school librarians' professional development could directly advance MIL education goals.
If you were inspired by the conversation around pupil choice at the recent SLA Conference, then you might be interested to attend the upcoming free event run by UCL, online on 19th June - Children's agency in the national curriculum: The promise of structured freedom. This hybrid international seminar and book launch explores how children's voices and choices shape their learning - directly relevant to our work in creating reading cultures that respect young people's preferences and interests.
The Federation of Children's Book Groups Children's Book Award 2025 announced its winners at a live ceremony on 7th June, with Ross Montgomery's I am Rebel taking both the overall prize and the Younger Readers' category, Grotti by Leonie Lord winning the Younger Children's category and Seven Million Sunflowers by Malcolm Duffy claiming the Older Readers' prize. There are lots of lovely resources on the FCBG site around the shortlist too.
The Week Junior Book Awards 2025 has announced its shortlist across 13 categories, with voting now open for both the Children's Choice Award and the Children's Book Cover of the Year Award. The winners will be announced at their ceremony on 29th September. We're feeling particularly inspired by the Audiobook of the Year Award. You can find some useful tips for using audio in the school library in our recent case study.
We will also be revealing the shortlist for the 2025 Information Book Award next week! Keep your eyes on our channel on Tuesday 17th June for our judge’s selections of the most exciting, engaging and informative information books for children and young people.
And finally, did you read our round-up of the SLA annual conference? We’ve been reflecting on the key takeaways that came out of a weekend which brought together over 200 school librarians, publishers, authors and educational professionals. The conversation about the challenges and opportunities for school libraries is ongoing, and we are so grateful to everyone who shared their opinions, experience and expertise with us last weekend. Please do let us know which part of the conference left you feeling invigorated!