The Bookseller to publish library-themed edition

The Bookseller will publish a special issue focused on public and school libraries next month. The edition, due on 3rd September, will explore how libraries fared during the pandemic featuring examples of diversification and ingenuity as well as considering what the future of libraries could look like.

There will be several paid comment pieces commissioned from experts in this area, focusing on themes such as planning during the pandemic and digital content, as well as interviews and an in-depth focus on 10 libraries across the UK. The special issue, supported by OverDrive and Penguin Random House, will be the first ever library-themed edition of The Bookseller and will also survey librarians about their autumn highlights from a typically packed publishing season.

Editor of The Bookseller Philip Jones said: "Libraries and librarians are on the front-lines of reading, and like booksellers have faced a traumatic 18 months as lockdowns and restrictions have changed how the service could operate. With this deep-dive, The Bookseller aims to interrogate how public and school libraries can recover from the pandemic as well as meet head-on the very many opportunities faced by librarians in this multi-format present."

The Bookseller is keen to hear from librarians, council leaders, authors and library campaigners who may wish to contribute. Deputy news editor Heloise Wood will be managing the issue, so any enquiries should be sent to heloise.wood@thebookseller.com by next Monday (9th August). For commercial opportunties around this edition, please contact emma.lowe@thebookseller.com.