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Brand Maximisation™ in action
Brand Maximisation™ in action
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We helped BookTrust reframe the library experience for families with under 5s — transforming it from “not for us” into a welcoming, supportive space that builds confidence, first visits and repeat reading habits.
BookTrust’s mission is simple: get every child reading regularly and willingly. But for many lower-income families with young children, libraries can feel unfamiliar, intimidating or irrelevant — even though early shared reading is proven to support bonding, development and long-term life chances.
This pilot set out to change that.
Repositioned libraries as welcoming, low-pressure spaces
Character-led creative system designed for warmth and familiarity
Behaviour-focused approach to encourage repeat visits
Scalable toolkit for rollout across participating libraries
Research showed that 46% of lower-income families with under 5s are not registered with a library. Workshops with target audiences revealed a clear emotional barrier: the library offer felt institutional, not relational — something to navigate correctly, rather than a place to explore together.
The challenge was to make libraries feel less like a service — and more like a helper.
If you want people to take a first step, you don’t start with information. You start with reassurance.
We reframed the library as a supportive, welcoming space – a place where families can simply show up, explore and enjoy reading together without pressure or judgement.
We introduced Owl – the lead character from the award-winning This is Owl – as the friendly guide for the pilot. Owl becomes a consistent, empathetic presence across touchpoints, helping families feel welcomed and supported from the outset.
Every communication was shaped around a behavioural goal: encourage a first visit, then prompt the next. Because lasting impact comes from repetition – and repeat visits are what turn shared reading into habit.

The result is a multi-touchpoint engagement toolkit designed to meet families where they are — from outreach materials that reduce friction and invite action, to in-library experiences that create positive, memorable moments worth repeating.
BookTrust’s ambition is long-term behaviour change. This pilot supports that by positioning libraries as a friendly companion in a family’s reading journey — building confidence, routine and a sense of belonging that keeps families coming back.
Looking to drive meaningful behaviour change through brand and experience? Let’s talk.