Ken Chad

Could public libraries learn from Waterstones bookshops and reverse decline? "Waterstones proves that sticking to the fundamentals can go a long way. And it isn’t unique to bookselling". @TheEconomist economist.com/britain/2026/0… @CILIPinfo

Back to books. Sweden "is...reintroducing physical textbooks, limiting screen time, and investing heavily in school libraries....[and] embracing analogue learning once again. bbc.co.uk/programmes/w3c… @CILIPinfo @Jisc @Literacy_Trust #libraries

The "metadata supply chain..has not kept pace with developments" A new HELibTech "ViewPoint" by John McCullough helibtech.com/helibtech-view… Also webinar 2 June connect.oclc.org/helibtech-eres… @Jisc @UKSG @CILIPinfo @OCLC

"Is your research systems infrastructure fit for purpose?" I'm presenting sessions at the @UKSG conference 30 and 31 March (uksg.org/the-uksg-49th-… ) How can we create a better infrastructure? I will share insights from my projects with UK universities. @researchinfo @Jisc

Is AI making library discovery solutions obsolete? "Students.. are reading an AI answer before they ever see our library databases". Have we got things the wrong way round? Students need library assistants *to* AI more than AI assistants in discovery? sciencedirect.com/science/articl…

Autistic Representation in Picturebooks. Natasha, an experienced educator & bookseller specialising in literacy and inclusion, presents at the NAG forum 20th May (nag.org.uk/event/forum-20…) @CILIPinfo @libsconnected #Neurodiversity #libraries

Autistic characters in picture books - providing the best experience for children (FREE webinar) 27 Oct. Register us02web.zoom.us/webinar/regist… Vital insights for librarians booksellers etc @CILIPinfo @uksla @thebookseller @BAbooksellers @readingagency

Next month, I’ll be speaking about picture books and autism, with @KenChad Please do join us for this free webinar: lnkd.in/edu4bqKR

Autistic children & picture books. us02web.zoom.us/webinar/regist… Educator, bookseller & researcher Natasha Radford will share her recent research into the representation and reception of autistic characters in children’s picture books. @cilipinfo @thebookseller @libsconnected

Open source software - building flexible, future-ready HE libraries. FREE Higher Education Library Technology webinar 13 October. 14.00 UK Time Register for the webinar: us02web.zoom.us/webinar/regist… @mbreeding @CILIPinfo @Jisc @kohails @FOLIO_LSP

"Librarians in the AI Age". 'ViewPoint' helibtech.com/helibtech-view… A student knowledge gap around services from the library? "There’s no question that the near ubiquity of #AI now makes this a more pressing issue to solve than ever." @CILIPinfo @SconulO

Do you want to write about library technology? Do you have an interesting or even radical perspective? Get published (Open Access) on Higher Education Library Technology. HELibTech 'ViewPoints : helibtech.com/helibtech-view…

"Beyond the @britishlibrary : How Crisis Reshaped UK Resource Sharing". Insights on a radical shift: "RapidILL: The Unexpected Accelerator" HELibTech 'ViewPoints' helibtech.com/helibtech-view… @mbreeding @Jisc @ClarivateAG @OCLC @CILIPinfo

Libraries have a vital role is supporting 'long form reading'. "It is especially long-form texts, such as books, that sharpen our higher-level reading skills". The Reading Manifesto: Why higher level reading is important readingmanifesto.org @CILIPinfo @librariesconnected

The SCONUL Library Tech Landscape report- hugely valuable resource - in-depth analysis of the tech landscape in UK and Ireland academic libraries, covering 26 functional areas. HELibTech helibtech.com/core-library-s… @mbreeding @SconulO @CILIPinfo @Jisc

Rethinking Student Engagement with Library Resources, HELibTech free webinar: 3 July 15:00 London Time. Register: us02web.zoom.us/webinar/regist… I'll be discussing findings from the TfS Librarian Futures report technologyfromsage.com/librarian-futu… @CILIPinfo @Jisc

Review of research system infrastructure. I'm working with City St George's, University of London to help ensure their research infrastructure is fit for purpose for the next REF. kenchadconsulting.com/recent-project… @jisc @UKRI_News #OpenAccess

All the evidence will be in the report and presentations - this is the conclusion. This is about adult use (age 17+) of public libraries in America

Fascinating data from our Freckle survey (US, April 25) Nearly half (46%) of library circulations are digital. (UK 8%)... library use is down by half in 12 years. Circulations are skewed to new fiction and lacking in back-list nonfiction. Funding is still £15bn and rising.

Can a proprietary library system be more open than an open source one? Higher Education Library Technology 'Viewpoints' helibtech.com/helibtech-view… Library platforms all combine open source & proprietary elements @CILIPinfo @mbreeding @FOLIO_LSP @ExLibrisGroup