A Culture Officer from Vision Redbridge Culture & Leisure has been shortlisted for a prestigious national award, recognising outstanding contributions to arts and community engagement in Redbridge Libraries.
Sarah Jones, Culture Engagement & Participation Officer in the Culture and Libraries Development Team, has been nominated in the Share the Vision category of the Libraries Connected Awards. The awards celebrate the achievements of people working in and with libraries who have made an exceptional difference to their users or their wider community.
Sarah was shortlisted for her work embedding a strong commitment to inclusivity and accessibility into daily practice at Vision Redbridge. Her dedication has inspired the Culture team and enhanced the quality and reach of the borough’s Outdoor Arts programme, ensuring more residents can access and enjoy creative experiences across Redbridge.
The Awards are organised by Libraries Connected, the independent charity representing public library services across England, Wales, Northern Ireland and the Crown Dependencies. The Awards have six categories reflecting the charity’s Universal Library Offers and Promises.
The shortlist will now be considered by an expert panel, with the winners revealed in June at a ceremony during the Libraries Connected annual seminar.
For the fifth successive year the Awards are generously sponsored by OverDrive, the leading digital content distributor for libraries and schools worldwide, and creator of the award-winning library reading app, Libby.
Martin Solder, Chair of Vision Trustees said:
“We are absolutely delighted to see Sarah shortlisted for this prestigious national award. Her dedication to inclusivity and accessibility truly reflects the values at the heart of Vision Redbridge. Sarah’s work has not only strengthened our cultural offer, particularly through Redbridge Outdoor Arts, but has also inspired colleagues and created meaningful opportunities for our community to engage with culture in ways that are welcoming and accessible to all. On behalf of the Vision Trustees, I warmly congratulate Sarah on this well-deserved recognition and wish her every success at the awards ceremony in June.”
Isobel Hunter MBE, Chief Executive of Libraries Connected, said:
“Huge congratulations to all the staff who have been shortlisted for the Libraries Connected Awards 2026. We had a record-breaking number of nominations this year and the range of projects put forward shows just how creative and committed library workers are, even in challenging times. It’s inspiring to see how staff respond to local needs, find new ways to connect people and ensure that libraries remain welcoming and trusted places for everyone. We’re delighted to recognise their achievements.”
Nick Forster, Senior Regional Manager at OverDrive, said:
“As we celebrate our fifth year supporting the Libraries Connected Awards, we continue to be inspired by the exceptional work happening in libraries across the country. The creativity, resilience, and community focus shown in this year’s nominations demonstrate the profound impact libraries have on people’s lives. OverDrive is proud to champion the dedicated professionals who make this possible.”
