Worker co-op brings children’s authors into UK libraries to inspire young readers

A worker co-operative is bringing authors into libraries across the UK to create what former Children’s Laureate Joseph Coelho calls “life changing” moments for young readers.

Through the GLL Literary Foundation, children’s authors are working with librarians, schools and communities to inspire reading for pleasure while helping writers build sustainable careers.

The initiative is led by Gll, a partner member of Co-operatives UK, which runs public libraries, leisure services and cultural services across the UK.

Joseph Coelho OBE, patron of the GLL Literary Foundation, said: “Meeting an author can be a life changing moment for a child. The GLL Literary Foundation creates those moments by bringing writers into libraries and placing stories at the heart of communities. Seeing authors continue their journey together while welcoming new voices makes this an exciting and important programme for the future of reading.”

The Foundation supports children’s authors with bursaries, mentoring from librarians and professional development support, while creating opportunities for them to visit libraries, schools and community spaces. In this guest blog (below) - published on World Book Day 2026 - Rebecca Gediking, Library Services Director at GLL, explains how the Foundation came about, the challenges it aims to address and the impact it is already having in communities across the UK.

Guest blog: Creating Co-operative Impact by supporting authors and inspiring readers

GLL is a charitable social enterprise, employee-owned workers’ co-operative and the largest provider of public leisure services and libraries in the UK, writes Rebecca Gediking, Library Services Director at GLL. We exist to make life in communities better - spreading health, social and economic opportunity.

Working in partnership with local authorities and local communities, we manage more than 240 leisure facilities and 124 public and prison libraries across the country. We welcome more than six million library visits each year and see first-hand how libraries support communities to thrive.

In 2025, we launched the GLL Literary Foundation to support authors, inspire readers and champion public libraries in response to challenges we were seeing across libraries.

Understanding the challenges

Research from the National Literacy Trust showed that children’s reading for pleasure levels had fallen to their lowest point in a generation. Reading remains fundamental to literacy, confidence and opportunity, yet many young people were encountering books primarily through education rather than enjoyment or imagination.

At the same time, conversations with authors and publishers highlighted another concern. Many early-career children’s writers were finding it increasingly difficult to sustain their careers. Authors were expected to deliver events, build audiences without structured professional support and some were beginning to question whether continuing to write was sustainable.

Further research from the National Literacy Trust highlighted a positive finding: when children meet authors, stories become real and accessible, and young people are far more likely to engage in reading.

Finding solutions

We recognised that public libraries, rooted in communities and trusted spaces, were uniquely positioned to respond to both challenges identified and to maximise the impact of the positive research. Across GLL partnerships, librarians were already supporting reading and creativity at a grassroots level through close relationships with schools, families and local authors. As the largest public library operator in the UK, we understood that we had an opportunity to grow this local practice into something coordinated nationally.

The success of GLL’s Sport Foundation provided inspiration. For 18 years, the Sport Foundation has demonstrated how sustained investment in individuals can deliver wider social value. In 2024, 117 past and present Sport Foundation athletes competed at the Olympic and Paralympic Games, winning 77 medals. And 12 past and present Sport Foundation supported athletes delivered performances to be proud of at the recent Winter Olympic Games. Seeing how the Sport Foundation nurtured talent, encouraged us to consider how similar principles could support creative careers and strengthen reading culture through libraries.

Creating the Literary Foundation

We decided to bring together the strengths already present across GLL and shaped an offer that responds directly to the challenges faced by authors, readers and libraries in establishing the correct support for authors through the GLL Literary Foundation.

Selected authors receive a £750 bursary alongside in-kind professional support valued at up to £4,000. Each author is partnered with a Literary Foundation Champion who mentors them throughout the year, helping to develop events, build confidence and connect with schools, literary organisations and local communities.

GLL’s Start Up and Business Libraries already supporting entrepreneurs and creative professionals across our libraries, were tailored to authors’ needs, providing guidance in finance, marketing, publicity, scheduling and audience development.

GLL uses its national network of libraries, partnerships and industry relationships to provide authors with a wider platform, amplifying their work beyond individual locations, enabling them to reach readers across multiple communities. The Foundation grows from grassroots relationships and blossoms on a national scale.

Delivering for communities

The true test of the Foundation came in its first year of delivery, as the programme moved from concept into practice across GLL libraries. Authors and librarian mentors worked together to design events shaped by local communities.

During its first year, the GLL Literary Foundation supported authors to deliver 57 events across libraries, schools and online platforms, reaching 3,479 attendees, including more than 3,000 children. 81 per cent of children who took part said they were more likely to visit their local library after meeting an author, and 79 per cent reported feeling more motivated to read. Libraries saw increased borrowing, new memberships and renewed engagement from families following events. Authors saw increased book sales and events and became part of a supportive community.

As the programme developed, its impact extended beyond individual library events into the wider literary landscape. Authors attended festivals, conferences and national industry events, strengthening professional networks and visibility.

A particularly special moment came at the Carnegie Awards, where GLL Literary Foundation author Nathanael Lessore won the Carnegie Shadowers’ Choice Medal for King of Nothing, voted for by young readers. Several Foundation authors released new books during the year, demonstrating how sustained support helps writers continue creating and sharing stories with children and families.

GLL Children’s librarians have taken on expanded roles as mentors and cultural connectors, sharing learning across partnerships. In the words of Literary Foundation Champion, Miriam Storey: “A network of support has grown across all the GLL library partnerships both for the authors and the GLL Literary Champions. Feedback and discussion is encouraged, and this enriches the experience as well as fuelling future ideas.”

The reception to the GLL Literary Foundation across both the social enterprise and cultural sectors has been extremely positive. In 2025 the GLL Literary Foundation was named a finalist for the Social Enterprise UK Innovation of the Year Award, followed in 2026 by GLL Libraries being shortlisted for Library of the Year at the British Book Awards in recognition of the Foundation’s impact.

National Year of Reading 2026

Building on the success of the first year, the programme has now moved into its second phase. Rather than concluding support after 12 months, we created a year two alumni offer so that authors from the inaugural cohort could continue developing their work and relationships within the Foundation community.

The Alumni Programme enables established authors to deepen partnerships with librarian mentors and local communities while supporting and collaborating with the new cohort joining in 2026.

Year Two has also brought new partnerships across publishing, festivals and cultural organisations, expanding opportunities for authors while strengthening the role of public libraries within the national literary landscape.

For 2026 author Iqbal Hussain, participation reflects the role libraries have played throughout his own life: “As someone brought up in a large working-class family where books were seen as a luxury, I’ve been a lifelong supporter of libraries and the worlds they open up for children like me who couldn’t afford our own books. The year ahead will give me dedicated mentoring on building my author brand, developing school visits and meeting my audience, alongside invaluable writing and networking opportunities. Most importantly, it’s my way of paying it forward: doing what I can to champion libraries for young readers, especially in this National Year of Reading.”

The experience of developing the GLL Literary Foundation shows how a co-operative model can create the conditions for genuine collaboration. Because GLL is employee-owned, rooted in communities and able to reinvest for social purpose, we are able to connect authors, readers, libraries and partners in ways that grow naturally from practice.

The GLL Literary Foundation demonstrates how public libraries can act as catalysts for creativity and opportunity, supporting authors, inspiring readers and strengthening the cultural life of the communities they serve.