IPM to highlight the vital role of libraries in high street revitalisation
Ian Harvey, Head of the Institute of Place Management at Manchester Metropolitan University, will take centre stage as the opening keynote speaker at the Libraries Connected Annual Seminar this June. The event, taking place 10–11 June at Chesford Grange Hotel, Kenilworth, brings together library leaders, local government, and community partners from across the country.
This year’s theme is “Resilience” - how libraries can support people and places to thrive in challenging times.
Ian will share the national findings from the High Street Task Force on what’s working to revive town centres. He will show how public libraries are playing a key role in that story, not just as places to borrow books, but as trusted local spaces where people connect, get support, and take part in their community.
The way we use town centres is changing. As shops close and services move online, libraries are becoming even more important. They are one of the few places left where people can go for free, without having to spend money. They’re often the first port of call for people needing help with everything from job applications to digital skills.
New research, based on libraries in Austria, Sweden and the Netherlands, shows that librarians are doing far more than people realise. They help people feel safe, supported, and part of their community - even if that’s just offering a chat, fixing a printer, or pointing someone in the right direction. This often-invisible work has a big impact on local wellbeing.
The seminar will explore how to make this work more visible, better supported, and more connected to wider efforts to improve high streets and public services. The two-day event is aimed at Heads of Library Services, councils, and local leaders but anyone interested in the future of libraries and town centres is welcome. It includes:
- Inspiring talks from library and regeneration leaders
- Practical workshops on running and funding libraries
- Networking with people working in towns and cities across the UK
- A marketplace of suppliers showcasing tools and ideas
Where: Chesford Grange Hotel, Kenilworth
When: 10–11 June 2025
More information and other speakers can be accessed on the Libraries Connected website at: https://www.librariesconnected.org.uk/events/person-libraries-connected-annual-seminar-2025-resilience-age-uncertainty
About the author
Formed in 2006, the Institute of Place Management is the international professional body that supports people committed to developing, managing and making places better.