CILIP launches the National Shelf Service to recommend books to children

CILIP, the UK's library and information association, has announced the launch of the National Shelf Service, a new daily YouTube broadcast featuring book recommendations from professional librarians. The National Shelf Service will feature one librarian and one book recommendation each day. The broadcast will start on Monday 6th April and continue every weekday at 11 a.m. 

The initiative focuses on helping children and families discover new and diverse reading experiences.

The books themselves will be picked specifically to encourage children to enjoy diverse characters and authors from diverse backgrounds. The initiative will also support children's creativity and wellbeing as they build their literacy and confidence. 

However, the first week's recommendation will draw on the 80-year history of the Carnegie and Kate Greenaway Awards as part of a celebration of this year’s shortlists.

The books featured will be available to borrow as e-books from local libraries' online platforms. 

Children's librarian Jake Hope, chair of the CILIP Carnegie and Kate Greenaway Awards Working Party, said: "With some library services reporting increases in online book lending of up to 700%, there has never been a better time for the nation’s librarians to step up and help families discover great new reading experiences from home. As professional librarians, we know that it is essential to keep children motivated and enthusiastic about reading, despite being stuck indoors. The National Shelf Service will harness the reach of YouTube to help us support parents in doing exactly that."

Alison Brumwell, chair of the CILIP Youth Libraries Group, added: "librarians have a unique ability to connect readers with unusual and diverse reading experiences that fire the imagination, build empathy and help develop their skills and confidence. This is a great opportunity for our profession to support the nation through this current crisis."