A Milestone Moment: Libraries Coming to Every Primary School by 2029

What a way to start a Monday! Today marks a truly historic day for literacy and education in the UK. At the Labour Party Conference in Liverpool, Chancellor Rachel Reeves announced a commitment that will transform the landscape of primary education: funding for a library in every state primary school by 2029.

This announcement represents a monumental milestone for the Libraries for Primaries campaign, which has been working tirelessly since its founding by the National Literacy Trust and Penguin Books in 2021 to address a critical gap in our education system.

 

Why This Matters

The chancellor's announcement is deeply personal and powerfully significant. As Reeves shared: "When I was at school, they turned our library into a classroom because there were more students than there was space, and I saw first-hand the negative impact that had."

Her words highlight an experience far too many children have faced – growing up without access to a dedicated library space where they can discover new worlds, explore their interests, and develop a lifelong love of reading.

"Now we are ensuring every primary school has a library, giving kids the chance to learn, grow, explore their interests and find quiet space to study," Reeves continued. "Through our Plan for Change it is our mission to give every child the best start in life, regardless of their background or where they're from. This announcement is a key milestone in achieving that."

 

The Power of Partnership

The Libraries for Primaries campaign has brought together an extraordinary coalition of more than 60 cross-sector partners, including authors, illustrators, publishers, businesses, libraries, charities, trusts and foundations. This collaborative approach demonstrates what can be achieved when the entire literary community comes together with a shared vision.

Since 2021, the campaign has already transformed 1,500 primary school libraries, giving almost half a million more children access to the unrivalled benefits of reading. Today's announcement will supercharge these efforts even further.

Jonathan Douglas, chief executive of the National Literacy Trust, told The Bookseller's Children's Conference that the "extraordinary creativity in the room" would "change lives through books and actually change the nation." Following the chancellor's announcement, he added: "It's opening the doors of literature to millions of children across the country. So congratulations and thank you all for the energy that you've expended and all the commitment."

 

Looking Ahead to 2026

This announcement comes at a crucial time, in the lead-up to the National Year of Reading 2026 – a Department for Education initiative developed in collaboration with the National Literacy Trust. The initiative aims to tackle the steep decline in reading enjoyment among children, young people and adults that we've witnessed in recent years.

As Douglas noted, today's announcement "will supercharge these efforts and truly cement reading for pleasure as a national priority as we approach 2026 – the National Year of Reading."

 

What This Means for Children

At Little Book Factory, we believe that every child deserves access to books and the transformative power of reading. A library isn't just a room with shelves – it's a gateway to imagination, a quiet space for discovery, and a foundation for lifelong learning.

This commitment to providing every primary school with a dedicated library space means:

• Equal opportunity: Children from all backgrounds will have access to a rich world of literature
• Reading for pleasure: Dedicated spaces that encourage children to read for joy, not just for lessons
• Quiet spaces: Places where children can study, reflect, and explore at their own pace
• Discovery: Opportunities to find new interests, develop empathy, and expand horizons

 

A Game-Changing Moment

Today's announcement is truly game-changing. It recognises that reading for pleasure isn't a luxury – it's a fundamental right that should be available to every child, regardless of their postcode or circumstances.

As we look towards 2029, we're excited to see how this commitment will transform the literary landscape for the next generation. Here's to opening the doors of literature to millions of children and giving every child the best possible start in life.

The future of reading in our primary schools has never looked brighter.