Conference news: Puffin joins as publisher sponsor and volunteer spaces are now open!

We are so pleased to announce that Puffin will be the publisher sponsor of our 2026 Annual Conference, taking place at the University of Winchester on 5th and 6th June.

Victoria Dilly, CEO of the SLA, said: “We are delighted to welcome Puffin on board as publisher sponsor for our 2026 conference. Puffin's commitment to connecting children and young people with books they love makes them a natural partner for the SLA. I look forward to working with them on elevating our vibrant conference programme even further, celebrating legendary authors and introducing our members and delegates to exciting new writers.” 

As part of the sponsorship, Puffin authors will play a central role in the conference programme. Dame Jacqueline Wilson will be delivering the closing keynote on Saturday afternoon, discussing her career writing for children, including creating some of the best-loved children's books ever published, with over 40 million copies sold in the UK alone. This is an opportunity for delegates to hear from a legendary figure in children's literature, as she reflects on a body of work that has spanned decades and shaped the reading lives of generations. There will be a chance to meet Dame Jacqueline in person at a book signing following the keynote. 

Debut Puffin author Iqbal Hussain will also join SLA CEO Victoria Dilly for an in-conversation event on Friday afternoon. Equal parts funny, uplifting and heart-breaking, Iqbal’s middle grade novel The Night I Borrowed Time follows eleven-year-old Zubair - a seventh son who inherits the power of time travel and uses it to try to save his parents' marriage. Waterstones' Children's Book of the Month on publication, it has been widely praised by reviewers, librarians and young readers. Fellow conference speaker and author Sophie Anderson called it "spectacular — beautifully woven, full of warmth, wit and wisdom."

Other Puffin authors to join the conference line-up will include Isaac Hamilton-Mckenzie, who will take part in a discussion about getting boys into books and Abigail Balfe, author of This is NOT the Diary of Izzy Dobson, who will join a panel discussion focused on supporting SEND and wellbeing through the school library.

Amanda Punter, Puffin Publishing Director said: “Puffin is delighted to be sponsoring the SLA Annual Conference 2026, particularly in this landmark National Year of Reading. As a loud and proud champion of the power of stories to spark imaginations, we believe deeply in the transformative role reading plays in a child’s life. Through our library transformation programme World of Stories, delivered in partnership with the National Literacy Trust, we see first-hand how essential school libraries are to building a love of reading. The librarians and educators who run them create welcoming, inclusive spaces where every child has the opportunity to find a book that reflects their interests, broadens their horizons, and sparks their imagination. We’re excited to connect Puffin's exceptional authors, illustrators and stories with these incredible champions of reading for pleasure at this year’s event and support the SLA in its vital work.” 

Through the theme of ‘Changing Narratives’ the SLA conference will explore how school libraries and librarians have the power to change the narratives surrounding children's reading, learning and wellbeing, offering an all-important antidote to many of the challenges facing school communities today.  

Delegates will hear from a range of key voices in the sector, with the aim of inspiring new thinking and a solution-focused approach to ensure children and young people can reach their full potential.  

In addition to the programme of speaker sessions, there will be an exhibition hall with some of the very best children's publishers exhibiting and sharing new books, including both Puffin and parent company, Penguin Books, which will be sharing information about how teachers and schools can get involved with social impact initiatives such as Libraries for Primaries and Lit in Colour.  

Don't miss out on the only UK conference dedicated soley to school libraries: sla.org.uk/conference

Volunteer places are now open for 2026. Volunteering at the conference offers SLA members an opportunity to attend while supporting the event. Volunteers help with a range of tasks across the day as well as being able to attend the conference with a 50% reduction on the ticket price. Limited spaces are available so register your interest soon!