We are pleased to announce that the RLUK strategic strand, Rethinking the Research Library Model (RRLM) has a new blog at: http://rlukrrlm.wordpress.com/

The blog currently contains:

a)    Information on the aims of the strand

b)    A review of the current foundations of the research library, by Lesley Gilder of the University of Southampton

Research Libraries UK (RLUK) welcomes the University of Exeter as its latest member. RLUK now represents 34 of the leading research libraries in the UK and Ireland.

Research Libraries UK, through JISC and MIMAS, makes available a large database of bibliographic data. RLUK very much supports the idea of open bibliographic data, and is a signatory to the Discovery Open Metadata Principles (http://discovery.ac.uk/businesscase/principles/). RLUK estimates that approximately 16 million bibliographic records in its database are free from restrictions in terms of redistribution and open licensing.

RLUK and SCONUL very much welcome the commitment of the UK government to ensure that publicly funded scientific research is made available for anyone to read for free.  We agree with Science Minister David Willetts that “Removing paywalls that surround taxpayer funded research will have real economic and social benefits.”

RLUK reaction to the publication of Accessibility, sustainability, excellence: how to expand access to research publications a Report of the Working Group on Expanding Access to Published Research Findings, Chaired by Dame Janet Finch

The purpose of the day was to clarify the research library agenda with regard to research data management, and to establish where RLUK can add value to the process through collaborative action. The session was facilitated by Kevin Ashley, Director of the Digital Curation Centre, and took the form of a mixture of presentations and working sessions.

The 5th RLUK Members Meeting and AGM were held within the magnificent environs of the New University Library at the University of Aberdeen on 29 and 30 March, 2012. The themes over the two days were: The Assistant Directors Network; Unique and Distinctive Collections and the RLUK/OCLC Survey of Special Collections; Redefining the Research Library Model, and Research Data Management. The presentations may be downloaded below.

RLUK Announces Election of new Chair of the RLUK Board

RLUK is very pleased to announce that Janet Peters has been elected Chair of the RLUK Board as of 30 March 2012.  She succeeds Phil Sykes, who held the Chair of RLUK for two years since 2010, and who now steps down after completing a double term on the RLUK Board.