Libraries Connected will be working with the Women's Prize Trust this year to expand engagement opportunities for readers through libraries.

This new initiative has been designed to coincide with the 30th anniversary celebrations of the Women's Prize for Fiction, made possible through the generosity of Syl Saller CBE. Under the new ‘Readers’ Room’ umbrella, the two organisations will collaborate to share free promotional materials with libraries. These will encourage readers to engage with the 562 titles in the Women’s Prize back catalogue, as well as for the 2025 Women’s Prize for Fiction and Women’s Prize for Non-Fiction shortlists.

With the Women’s Prize we are also launching a competition for five libraries around the UK to have the opportunity to host a party to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the prize and the announcement of the 2025 prize winners on 12 June 2025. Libraries are invited to pitch their most creative ideas of how they would like to celebrate with the Women’s Prize, and how their community would most benefit. The five selected libraries will be given exclusive party kits to support them hosting the event. Further details on how to enter will be announced soon.

Libraries Connected Chief Executive Isobel Hunter said:

“We are very excited to partner with the Women’s Prize Trust under the ‘Readers’ Room’. This initiative will help libraries and their readers to establish new engagement with the phenomenal books that the Women’s Prize for Fiction has brought to public consciousness over its history. 

Libraries and librarians are engines of creativity, so we are sure that they will come up with some brilliant ways to celebrate the 2025 Women’s Prize and look forward to reading about them!”