Anne Downes is Training Director of Opening the Book, a company based in the UK specialising in reader centred projects and library design.  

Opening the Book developed the concept and practice of reader-centred reading groups in the UK as an inclusive model especially appropriate for public libraries.  They worked with Waterstone’s and public libraries to create The Reading Group Toolbox – everything you need to know to set up a reading group in one box. and have trained reading group facilitators in the UK, Ireland, Slovenia, Czech Republic, Slovakia and Hungary. 

Anne is responsible for a range of training programmes, in particular the Frontline online course which is being used by staff in all library services in the Republic and supported by the Library Council.

Anne joined Opening the Book in 2000.  Previously she was the Literature Officer for Arts Council South East England and, before that, for Arts Council North West. She spent two years as a Literature Development Officer for Lancashire Libraries. Her other work experience includes running a literature festival, managing a youth charity and working for a publisher. She lives in the South of England.