Published 12th March 2026
A Nottinghamshire cultural professional has been shortlisted for a prestigious national award that celebrates the achievements of library workers.
Helen Ackroyd, Libraries and Culture Manager has been nominated in the Culture and Creativity category of the Libraries Connected Awards, which celebrate the achievements of library workers who have made an exceptional difference to their users or their wider community.
Helen was nominated for her long-term commitment to cultural development and events at Inspire who deliver culture, learning and libraries on behalf of Nottinghamshire County Council. Since 2016, Helen has delivered arts and cultural programmes that reach new audiences and build staff capacity. Helen was also recognised in Inspire’s own awards in 2025, receiving the Chief Executive Award for her contribution to the organisation.
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.
“We are absolutely delighted to see Helen recognised on the national stage for her outstanding contribution to arts and culture in Nottinghamshire. Her passion, creativity and unwavering commitment have transformed the way our communities engage with arts, culture and libraries. Helen has lead the team to deliver initiatives such as The Big Draw, annual charity knitting challenges and Arts Council England National Portfolio Organisation programmes such as I am a Creator.
This work has opened doors for new audiences, strengthened our teams, and helped ensure that libraries remain cultural hubs and inspiring places for everyone. Being shortlisted for this award is a thoroughly deserved recognition of her impact, and we are incredibly proud of her achievements.”
“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.”
“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.”
More information can be found here Shortlist announced for Libraries Connected Awards 2026 | Libraries Connected and here Libraries Connected Awards 2026: Shortlists in full | Libraries Connected
