Universal Library Offer Virtual Conference 2025

Katie Pekacar has over 15 years’ experience working on policy, research and implementation in the public library sector in England. Katie worked on innovation policy at the Museums, Libraries and Archives Council where she monitored and supported the development of ebook lending across public libraries in England. 

As an independent consultant Katie has delivered a wide range of projects supporting public library development at a national level, including:

• Evaluation of the ebook lending pilot in 2024, which included collecting and analysing data on ebook loans and the characteristics of ebook borrowers across 25 library services.
• Development of a partnership toolkit for public libraries and higher education as part of her work as a Carnegie UK Associate for Engaging Libraries Phase 2.
• Higher Education and Public Libraries: Partnership Research, a report examining the potential for greater partnership working between public libraries and higher education for Arts Council England which has enabled Arts Council England to plan greater support for HE partnerships for public libraries.
• Katie also worked on the Public Libraries 2020 Campaign, with the Reading And Writing Foundation, an NGO based in Brussels, to raise the profile of the impact of public libraries with European lawmakers.

Katie has a masters in Social Anthropology from UCL and prior to her work in public libraries, she worked in qualitative and quantitative social and market research in specialist research agencies.

Isobel Hunter MBE is the inaugural Chief Executive of Libraries Connected, where she has successfully led the transformation of the organisation from a small core team into a nationally recognised body with dedicated policy, programme, and regional teams. Under her leadership, Libraries Connected has gained significant visibility across national media and government, championing the vital role of public libraries in society.

A passionate advocate for libraries, Isobel is committed to working collaboratively with members to develop and promote a thriving public library sector that is central to communities across the country.

Isobel brings a strong background in strategic leadership within the heritage and cultural sectors. Prior to her current role, she served as Head of Archives Sector Development at The National Archives, where she provided strategic direction and support to archive services nationwide. She has also held senior roles at Arts Council England and the Museums, Libraries and Archives Council, and is the Chair of the Roald Dahl Museum.

Originally trained as an archivist, Isobel began her career caring for unique collections at institutions including the Wellcome Institute, The National Gallery, and Marks & Spencer.

Mairead O’Rourke is a consultant, facilitator, and coach with over 20 years’ experience of development work in arts and heritage. 

She works with strategic bodies, councils, Universities, museums, heritage sites and arts organisations to undertake research projects, develop business plans and implement governance reviews. Mairead’s research and guidance publications for the Local Government Association, Arts Council England and The National Archives have provided insights into areas such as governance models, social prescribing, and local planning for libraries and archives.

Recent projects include undertaking a research for the V&A volunteer led tour programme, supporting a Place-Based working project with South East Libraries and compiling a guide on different operating models for museums for the Association of Independent Museums.

Mairead has been a trustee of two museums and is currently a trustee for the Museums Association Support Fund. She is a member of the European Mentoring and Coaching Council UK and an assessor for the Clore Leadership Programme. 

Charlie Jenkins joined The Queens Reading Room in November 2024 as Head of Operations. After working in live broadcast for 10 years, Charlie moved over to a career in live events; working her way up at Historic Royal Palaces and delivering large scale events and Festivals at some of the most historically significant venues in the UK, in order to bring in valuable income to the commercial stream of the Charity. Charlie loves to deliver multiple projects on time, on budget and absolutely loves to solve a problem. She leads the team on the operational running of the Charity and assists with the growth and vision for the future of The Queen’s Reading Room.

Hayley Brandon is Head of Marketing and Communications for The Reading Agency, a UK charity that inspires social and personal change through the proven power of reading. Hayley has over ten years experience as a senior communications manager in the charity sector specialising in arts, culture and education. Hayley is a trustee of Business Launchpad and a non-executive director of Tooting Works, a social enterprise that supports young entrepreneurs in South London.

Sarah Hassan chairs the Reading Offer group for Libraries Connected and is Head of Libraries Development for Norfolk County Council.  She leads on shaping library services that respond to community need, with a focus on strategic partnerships and inclusive reading initiatives.  Sarah believes passionately in the power of libraries to support wellbeing, literacy, and social connection, and works closely with colleagues across the UK to strengthen the public library network.  Sarah loves Norfolk and a crab sandwich, and when not being serious, can sometimes be found on the coastal path heading for the next café.

Sue Ball MBE is Head of Libraries & Communities in Staffordshire, and she is also Chair of the Public Library Health Group which advises on and supports the delivery, development and embedding of the Universal Health and Wellbeing Library Offer across England. Sue has worked in public libraries for over 30 years and was awarded an MBE for services to public libraries in 2019. From 2016 to 2018, she was Chair of the national Association of Senior Children’s and Education Librarians (ASCEL) and from 2020 to 2024 was a Trustee of ASCEL and the Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals.

Ruth Carlyle began her career as a health librarian in the voluntary sector, setting up, delivering and advising on health information services. She joined the NHS in April 2017 as Head of Knowledge and Library Services across the East of England and the Midlands, extending over time to a national role. Ruth provides and oversees professional advice and strategic leadership to NHS knowledge and library services delivering services to NHS organisations. Ruth is the co-lead nationally for NHS libraries’ work on health literacy and patient information, including collaborations to identify and address inequities in access and skills for health and digital literacy amongst members of the public.

Tabitha Witherick Macaulay is Chief Executive at ASCEL, the charity and national network of leaders in children’s, public and schools library services. 

She has worked in libraries for 25 years, is a chartered librarian and formerly Head of Library Service . She has also worked as Regional Development Manager at Libraries Connected.

Mark McCree is Head of Libraries and Heritage for Oxfordshire County Council; Chair of Share the Vision and national lead on the Vision and Print Impaired People’s Promise; and Chair of The Combined Regions. He was formerly Head of Libraries and Heritage for RNIB, and has worked in various capacities to help improve the accessibility of public libraries for over a decade.

David Lloyd has worked in Public Libraries for over 30 years and presently holds the post of Service Development Manager for Coventry Libraries and Information Service. David leads the Libraries Connected Information and Digital Universal Offer and represents public libraries on DSIT's Digital Inclusion Action Committee.  David has recently retired as a trustee for Coventry Citizens Advice a post he held for 19 years.

Isobel Thomas is Head of Community Partnerships at Good Things Foundation.  She leads external delivery partner engagement, supporting strong place-based digital inclusion delivery, finding new channels to reach people who are digitally excluded and expanding the National Digital Inclusion Network in key priority areas.

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/isobelathomas  

Marsha Lowe is a writer and Director of Oxygen Arts CIC, a social enterprise that specialises in targeting and working with diverse communities. She leads the Black British Ballet project with Dr Sandie Bourne which has to date produced a showcase website, a Windrush themed ballet show, a mentoring programme and most recently the Into the Light exhibition tour with Libraries Connected. She currently writes for Brixton Buzz on local arts in Lambeth and has led creative writing and reading workshops with children and young people in partnership with UK libraries, based on racially diverse stories. Her most recent publication is Onisere and the Ballet Queen, an illustrated children’s book that brings the stories of our Black British ballet pioneers to a much younger audience.

Ed Jewell is President of Libraries Connected and Chief Librarian for Jersey Libraries. He has led Jersey’s library service since 2014 and has worked in libraries across the Channel Islands for 25 years. Ed is the first Libraries Connected President from outside England.

 As President, Ed advocates for libraries as essential public services within wider policy and funding frameworks, contributing to national goals including literacy, lifelong learning, community wellbeing and digital transformation. 

 A passionate believer in intellectual freedom, Ed emphasises the importance of libraries as open, inclusive spaces that reflect and serve their whole communities.

Luke Burton has been Director, Libraries at Arts Council England since November 2022 where he works on projects, advocacy and partnership building as part of the Arts Council’s role as the sector development agency for libraries in England. Prior to his current role he worked in public and prison libraries. He spent 12 years in Newcastle Public Libraries in the UK in various roles including managing their Business & IP Centre and leading on digital projects as Digital Development Manager, before becoming Service Manager in 2019, leading the team there through the council’s Covid response. He is passionate about the value and role of libraries with a particular interest in emerging technologies, literacies, data and reading for pleasure.