ASCEL Conference 2011

Speaker Biogs

Steve Barlow & Steve Skidmore

Steve Barlow is tall and hairy, Steve Skidmore isn't! Known as the Two Steve’s they are Britain’s most popular comedy writing and performing double act for young people.

THE 2 STEVES have been writing together for over twenty years - they have written over 150 books for young people and have also acted as series editors for major publishing houses, including Oxford University Press, Heinemann and Ginn. In addition to their many popular fiction titles, they have written extensively for the reluctant/struggling reader. THE 2 STEVES are in great demand – performing at festivals and in schools and libraries throughout the world, where their shows are described as “Hilarious… brilliant… and mad”! To find out more about “THE 2 STEVES”, visit their website at

Phil Bradley

Phil is a freelance librarian and has been an Internet consultant since 1995. He spends much of his time training librarians and information professionals on advanced internet search, multimedia, and using social media resources. He also speaks at many conferences and exhibitions, both at home and abroad. When not teaching Phil writes about various aspects of the internet with specific reference to the information industry in his blogs and also in various online professional journals. He has also written a number of books and is currently updating ‘The advanced Internet searcher’s handbook’ and this will be the 4th edition of the title. When he’s not working his interests are Everton football club, photography and American history.

Phil Copestake

Phil manages OPM’s research department, which includes 30 experienced analysts and research consultants. He leads OPM’s evidence-based policy and practice portfolio, including performance assessment and benchmarking, best practice research, systematic literature reviews, and case studies and mapping exercises. He has particular expertise in strategic futures work, including scenario development and horizon scanning, as well as impact-focused evaluation, and equality and diversity practice and policy.Since joining OPM in 2003, Phil has worked with a wide variety of organisations from across the public services, including central and local government, health trusts and third sector organisations. Most recently Phil has been working with local authorities and their partners to identify how to maintain positive outcomes for service users and communities in the face of fewer resources. He has also been leading OPM’s work to explore the potential of employee and community ownership models for public services. Before joining OPM Phil held research placements at the National Trust and the RSPB. He also completed an internship with a leading public relations firm

Janene Cox

Janene began work in Birmingham Central Library in 1984. She remained within the Central Library for 2 years and then became the Community Librarian in a small inner city branch.

It was really valuable experience and she learned a great deal- particularly in terms of services to Children.In 1991 she left Birmingham and became an Area Manager in Northamptonshire, She became the Central Library Manager in 1998 and for the last year in Northants split her time between the CXO Change Programme and the Central Library.

She moved to Staffordshire in 2004 as Deputy Head of Libraries, became the Acting Head later in that year and then the Assistant Director for Culture and Libraries in 2008,last year as the organisation was re-structured and she got her current role. She is a trustee of TRA, chairs SCL/WM and is now President Elect for SCL. She is recognised as a really strong advocate for libraries, reading and informal learning. She believes libraries have an increasingly important role within the lives of communities and it is vital that we skill our staff and volunteers in articulating that.

Jonathan Douglas

Jonathan Douglas is Director of the National Literacy Trust – the independent charity changing lives through literacy. He is also a Director of the Money Advice Service. He previously worked at the Museums, Libraries and Archives Council as Head of Policy Development, where he also worked as Head of Learning and Access. Previously he was Professional Adviser for Youth and School Libraries at the Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals. Jonathan has also worked as a library assistant, children’s librarian and children’s services team leader in Westminster Libraries. Jonathan is on the Advisory Committee of the Man Booker Prize and also the Advisory Committee of Hello – the government sponsored national year of speech, language and communication. He has advised government on social and education policy. He was a member of the Expert Panel for the national Children’s Plan and was on the Advisory Committee of Every Child a Reader the national reading recovery programme. He is chair of governors of St William of York Primary School in Lewisham.

Miranda McKearney

Miranda McKearneyOBE is founder-Director of The Reading Agency, an independent charity with a mission to inspire more people to read more. The agency's work includes policy, research, advocacy and national programmes; with an emphasis on innovation. Since The Reading Agency came into being in 2002 it has led some powerful national library initiatives, including the Summer Reading Challenge.The Reading Agency also brokers and leads major partnerships between the public library network and partners as diverse as Orange, BBC Learning, theRichard and Judy Book Club and major publishers.The Reading Agency led the library engagement programme for the National Year of Reading during which 2.3m people joined the library. Miranda was awarded an OBE in 2006 for services to education and libraries.

Andrew NewboundSupported by

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Andrew is author of the children's books Demon Strike, I, Spy and a Children's History of Yorkshire. He currently spends his time touring schools and libraries inspiring children to love literacy, reading and writing. Before this though, Andrew spent 14 years working and winning awards as an advertising copywriter, working for some of the UK's biggest agencies and clients, including BUPA, Disney, HBOS, Centreparcs, EuroCamp and many more . He understands how powerful and effective marketing messages should be constructed and communicated and will be sharing his insight and methods

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Carolynn Rankinn

Carolynn worked for 20 years in special and academic library and information services before moving into professional education in 2000. She is Deputy Chair of the CILIP Library and Information Research Group and external examiner for the CILIP Chartership Board. Carolynn’s research interests are interdisciplinary, exploring the connections between civil society and social justice and access to literacy and learning via libraries. She has undertaken evaluation research for the MLA on the social impact of the National Year of Reading using the Generic Social Outcomes framework and is currently reviewing the development of the IFLA Sister Libraries programme. By chance Carolynn met Avril Brock during a coffee break a few years ago and as research partners they have now co-authored and edited four books including ‘Delivering the Best Start: a Guide to Early Years Libraries’ published by Facet and the forthcoming ‘Library Services for Children and Young Adults – challenges and opportunities in the digital age’ . Carolynn’s ‘soapbox’ concern is about encouraging practitioner research to support advocacy and policy development.