Inclusive Collections, Inclusive Libraries is an RLUK programme of events that aims to foster conversation around decolonisation and inclusive practice in collecting, describing, presenting, and engaging with content in research library collections. It seeks to raise awareness about the opportunities and challenges of dealing with, contextualising, and engaging with offensive collections while also identifying and sharing examples of good practice.
Towards equity and inclusion through special collections and archives
Tuesday 24 June, 14:00 – 15:30 (BST), 15:00 – 16:30 (CEST/SAST), 16:00 – 17:30 (EEST), 06:00 – 07:30 (PDT), 0900 – 10:30 (EDT), 21:00 – 22:30 (AWST/CST)
This seminar includes three case studies that aim to showcase the role that special and heritage collections and archives play in enabling research libraries and their home institutions to meet their equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) goals. From making ‘hidden voices’ visible and engaging with diverse audiences to employing inclusive practices that will ensure long-term accessibility of collections, our speakers will share examples of good practice towards greater equity and inclusion.
This event draws inspiration from the recently published position paper with the title ‘On Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion: a position paper by RLUK’s Special Collections and Heritage Network’. This position paper includes five objectives which underline the collective commitment of professionals in the network to EDI. The paper can also be used as a framework for helping institutions meet their EDI goals.
Imagining Illness: Sarah Roberts and the Art of Cultural Collections
Dr Rebecca Wade, Associate Curator: Cultural Collections, University of Leeds
Cultural Collections (formerly Special Collections) at the University of Leeds houses a significant and diverse range of artworks, artefacts, archives, manuscripts and rare books. While traditionally serving academic research and teaching, these collections have increasingly inspired creative practice through artist residencies. This paper presents a case study of Sarah Roberts’ 2024 residency, which culminated in the installation SICK (a note from 40 Sandilands Road and other stories) at the Stanley & Audrey Burton Gallery (2 April – 19 July 2025). It explores how Roberts synthesised interdisciplinary materials from collections related to global conflict, domestic and family life, the history and philosophy of science, public health initiatives and the evolution of medical tourism, with her lived experience as a young carer and ‘sick-adjacent’ person.
Discovering Durham’s LGBTQ+ History in the University Archives
Dr Jonathan Bush, Research Engagement and Collections Development Archivist, Durham University
Jie Xu, PhD candidate in Visual Culture, Durham University
The history of LGBTQ+ communities within academic institutions, particularly the individual experience of staff and students, is often underrepresented or overlooked in official accounts. This reflects the wider historic stigma attached to normative perceptions of these communities and also highlights the difficulty of uncovering their hidden histories which are often buried within the archival record. This paper will present the findings of a project to uncover Durham University’s LGBTQ+ history and the lived experience of its LGBTQ+ staff and students, revealing a previously untold and often unexpected story of activism, community and creative expression within the University.
Accessible Preservation: developing an inclusive strategy for management and preservation of access quality born-digital assets
Ailie O’Hagan, Digital Preservation Librarian, Queen’s University Belfast
New digital apps and platforms are removing barriers to creation and engagement by transforming the way communities and creators make, access and share digital materials. While many institutions have adopted deposit systems and processes to cater for diverse born-digital collections, how can we ensure our preservation efforts are equally inclusive? This presentation explores a tool and findings from an RLUK-TNA Professional Fellowship project conducted at Queen’s University Belfast, which outlines new ways of thinking about digital objects to consider the motivations, technical capacity and resources of diverse creators to better inform digital preservation decisions and more inclusive management of digital assets.