Hawke appointed chair of CILIP's National Youth Libraries Group

Jenny Hawke, GLL’s Children’s librarian at Orpington Library, Bromley, has been appointed as chair of the Chartered Institute of Library & Information Professionals (CILIP) National Youth Libraries Group. She will formally take on the role in autumn 2024, bringing a wealth of experience to the position spanning public, special interest and academic libraries. 

Having first joined Southwark Libraries as a school leaver over 40 years ago, Hawke moved on to the library at South Bank Polytechnic before taking a degree in sociology and then an MA in library and information studies at University College London (UCL). Following a stint as a specialist librarian, she began studying for a CILIP Chartership and during this period took an interest in the work of children’s literature and library services.

Hawke joined Bromley Libraries and was the library manager at Petts Wood Library for 12 years. This led to her joining CILIP’s Youth Libraries Group, moving on to chair the south-east regional group and latterly being a judge for the Carnegie and Kate Greenaway medals, which are now known as the Yoto Carnegies.

Since 2020, Hawke has worked at Orpington Library as the children’s librarian. In her new role as chair of CILIP’s National Youth Libraries, she will take a strategic overview of children’s library services from a national perspective. She will be responsible for the group’s annual national conference and will have oversight of the Yoto Carnegie medal awards.

Commenting on her appointment, Hawke said: “I feel privileged to be appointed as the new chair of CILIP’s National Youth Libraries Group and will be committed to ensuring that the work and provision offered by children’s and young people’s librarians is understood and recognised. I’ll also be working with partner agencies such as the Reading Agency and Book Trust on projects such as the Book Start programme and the Summer Reading Challenge. 

“I’ll be continuing with my ‘day job’ at Orpington Library, which means I’ll continue to have a first-hand understanding of the challenges faced and opportunities available within Britain’s children’s library network.”