Carol Stump, from Kirklees Libraries, has become the new President of Libraries Connected.

Carol has worked in public libraries her entire career. She began as a library assistant after leaving school with few qualifications and worked her way up to become Chief Librarian at Kirklees Council.

Carol takes over the position from Mark Freeman, Head of Stockton Libraries, whose tenure covered Libraries Connected’s first two years as a charity and sector support organisation for libraries after it changed from SCL in 2018.

Carol currently leads on the Public Library Skills Programme for Libraries Connected, to help ensure that the relevant mentoring, training and development is available to the library workforce.

Carol Stump, President, Libraries Connected:

I am incredibly proud and honoured to be the new President of Libraries Connected. This is a challenging time for everyone in the sector and I will use my time in the role to ensure that libraries are seen as part of the solution to recovery. We are uniquely placed, in the heart of our communities, to support a return to whatever the new normal looks like and we need to position libraries as a place to rebuild and reconnect.’

Mark Freeman, Past President, Libraries Connected:

‘It’s been a privilege to serve as Libraries Connected’s first President and to be part of the transformation between two quite different organisations. I have the utmost respect for Carol who, like me, has been a lifelong library supporter and worker so it’s with great pleasure that I hand over the Presidency of Libraries Connected to Carol and wish her the very best for the coming two years.’

Isobel Hunter, Chief Executive, Libraries Connected:

‘I am delighted to welcome Carol as our new President and I know that she is the right person to help steer our organisation through this critical time for libraries. I would also like to thank Mark for his dedication and unfailing support during our first two years as a sector support organisation. Libraries Connected is very lucky to have two such dedicated and experienced librarians as its leaders.’

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