The School Library Association (SLA) has announced the appointment of Victoria Dilly as its new Chief Executive Officer. With nearly 20 years of experience in the education sector, Dilly brings a wealth of knowledge and leadership to the role.
Prior to joining the SLA, Dilly has spent the last seven years leading and developing national programs for charitable organizations such as the National Literacy Trust, Speakers Trust, and the Royal Horticultural Society. Her most recent role at Speakers Trust involved managing the delivery of the largest national public speaking program for young people in the UK, with a focus on promoting oracy education. Before transitioning to the charity sector, Dilly worked as a school librarian for 10 years.
Founded in 1937, the SLA is dedicated to supporting schools in the development of their school libraries, fostering a culture of reading, and promoting independent learning skills. The organization believes that reading for pleasure can have a profound impact on children’s lives and future prospects. However, with one in seven primary schools in the UK lacking a library and one in four in disadvantaged communities, the SLA’s mission to ensure that no child gets left behind on their reading journey is more crucial than ever.
Expressing her excitement about her new role, Dilly said, “I’m thrilled to be joining the SLA, an organization with a rich history of supporting school libraries and helping children discover the joy of reading. I’m looking forward to building on this legacy with fresh ideas and working with members and colleagues in the sector to expand our reach and impact.” She added, “In these financially challenging times, our support to keep libraries an integral part of school life is more important than ever. With children’s reading for pleasure at an all-time low, the role of the school library is even more vital in giving children the chance to reach their full potential.”
Chair of the SLA, Paul Register, also expressed his confidence in Dilly’s appointment, stating, “Myself and the other SLA trustees cast a wide net in our efforts to find the best candidate for the SLA CEO, and I firmly believe we have achieved that. Victoria Dilly is one of those rare things – a person with extensive experience of working both in school libraries and in the business and charity sectors. She also has a great deal of passion, drive, and heart.” Register added, “I am very positive about the future of the SLA and our ability to serve and represent our members, as well as advocate for school libraries more generally. We can’t wait to start working with Victoria, and we are very excited for what lies ahead for the SLA in 2025.”
For further enquiries or to arrange an interview with Victoria Dilly, please contact Jo Campbell at publicity@sla.org.uk.
About the School Library Association (SLA):
The SLA is a non-profit organization that supports schools in developing their school libraries, promoting a reading culture, and fostering independent learning skills. The organization provides resources and training to ensure that no child gets left behind on their reading journey. The SLA believes that school libraries are essential hubs of learning and play a critical role in supporting children’s personal, social, and academic development. They are committed to the vision that all schools should have their own staffed library to help all children and young people reach their full potential. For more information, please visit www.sla.org.uk.
Press release distributed by https://pressat.co.uk/.
