Libraries
Make your library the place to be for young people
Rap, hip-hop, poetry out loud – bringing words alive for young people
“Suddenly, Harlesden Library was the cool place to be.”
Sarah Smith, Libraries Development Manager, London Borough of Brent
Our libraries programme is designed to make libraries a creative hub at the centre of their communities. We achieve this by widening access to live performance and high-quality arts experiences for children and families who may not otherwise experience them. Ranging from free poetry workshops to performances and youth-led showcases that build oracy, confidence and belonging.
We have been working in libraries for over twenty years and in 2026 we will reach over 3,000 children and young people aged 3–16 through our SPINE Festival and Libraries Out Loud project. The majority of our programme is delivered in underserved areas in Greater London and the South East and in inner city areas in other parts of the country.
Within each library we create safe, joyful spaces where children and young people can learn to write and perform poetry, sharing their work with their peers, families and local communities.
Why performance poetry?
- Confidence
- Storytelling
- Self-belief
- Building community
Our approach
We foreground Black British and Global Majority Poets.
Our poets are real world, relatable role models often from inner city backgrounds. They are skilled in developing writing and speaking skills with many blending music, rap and storytelling, showing that poetry is for and about each and every one of us.
We work with professional poets and trained poet educators.
All our poets are highly skilled and trained in working with young people in libraries, and many, such as Joseph Coelho, have international reputations. We run training sessions for our poets to support them in delivering our programmes.
We mix it up Many of our poets work across art forms, blending rap, music, movement and dance, storytelling and theatre techniques. For your young people it is active, fun and empowering.
Why it works
Improves future life chances by building oracy, self-expression and emotional resilience.Strengthens wellbeing and learning Our work is particularly impactful for young people who lack confidence with spoken and written words.
Relatable Young people see relatable role models that support their aspirations
High quality experiences For many young people it gives them their first high quality arts experience
Tips on writing Poetry from Joseph Coelho:
Carry a notebook. No matter how good your memory or how wonderful an idea or phrase is, if you don’t jot it down as it occurs you’re likely to forget it so carry a notepad and a pen.
Explore poetic forms. Form can be a great way to explore a subject by giving you a creative restriction that often opens-up ideas and turns of phrase that you may never normally come up with. There are many great books on form that tell you about different types of poem including my own “How To Write Poems”, as well as no end of websites that spell out how to create sonnets, villanelles, sestinas and the like.
Share your poems: Write them in cards, declare them at birthdays, read them to your friends and families.
Check out these resources:
– Fun videos on how to write poems!
– More helpful tips and resources for writing poems!
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