Engagement and learning officers at Gladstone's Library

Gladstone's Library, Hawarden

By Rhian Waller - Gladstone's Library PR and marketing

Alice Cleave and Jade Arrowsmith can't really be called the 'new' engagement and learning officers at Gladstone's Library any more. They have been in post for almost four months, they have settled into library life, and their programme of engagement activities is very much in progress.

The two officers' appointment is funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund to reach 16 to 24-year-olds and support them to learn about and engage with the Library and its collections - focusing on democracy, human rights and religious freedom.

This involves bringing groups of young people to the Library and stepping out into the community to deliver activities and host discussions on those themes.

"We're very into it now," said Jade. "It's going really well. We have contacted various organisations like schools and universities, and the interest has been bigger than we anticipated.

"We have met with seven groups so far to run activities that get people to think about democracy, history, identity and libraries. By Christmas we are expecting to see about 350 young people," said Alice.

"We've talked to people from other heritage organisations, like the representatives at the heritage fair held here at the start of the month, and the feedback and advice we've had has really emphasised the importance of bringing young people in rather than waiting for them to come to us," Jade added.

The groups so far have consisted of 16 to 18-year-olds who engaged with a variety of activities and discussions. They have even gone international: Jade and Alice recently met with students in the Enterprise groups at The Falklands Islands Community School via Teams.

The engagement and learning officers have designed a menu of sessions on the subjects of religious tolerance, Gladstone's legacy and more, as well as an introduction to the Library.

Attendees have debated and evaluated elements of the Human Rights Act, drawn their own bookplates (unique images pasted onto the inner cover of a book to designate its owner) and designed their own ideal library.

Alice said: "They have been a joy to work with. They all engaged with what we've asked them to do."

"They have been very creative - although one group collectively decided to ban certain animals from their ideal libraries: no wasps, no mosquitos and no pigeons. They were very pro bees and hedgehogs, though."

"Many of them have been very confident to give their own views, which is great," Jade added.

• If you work for an organisation catering for people aged 16-24 and want to know more about these visits and activities, please email alice.cleave@gladlib.org.