Research Libraries UK (RLUK) is pleased to announce a new project exploring the role of special and heritage collections in civic engagement and societal impact. Developed as part of RLUK’s new strategy, the project responds to growing interest across the research library community in understanding how collections can contribute more actively to institutional priorities, public value, and community engagement.
The project builds on conversations taking place across the RLUK community, and particularly within the RLUK Special and Heritage Collections Network (SCHN). These conversations have highlighted the increasingly complex environment in which research libraries and cultural heritage institutions now operate. Ongoing financial pressures, staff reductions, and heightened expectations for universities to demonstrate civic value are reshaping priorities across Higher Education in the UK and beyond. At the same time, the value of special and heritage collections lies not only in their role as heritage assets, but also in their growing significance as resources that can support dialogue, foster community connections, strengthen institutional identity, and provide inclusive spaces for learning and engagement.
Against this backdrop, the project seeks to better understand how special and heritage collections are being repositioned within institutions and communities, and how library professionals are adapting their practices in response to changing expectations. It will examine the contribution of collections to civic engagement, community building, knowledge exchange, and institutional impact, while also exploring how strategic priorities around collections, spaces, and workforce development are evolving across the sector.
The project has been shaped through initial discussions with colleagues from the RLUK community. Feedback from these conversations has informed both the scope of the work and the identification of outputs that would provide practical value to the community. In particular, members emphasised the importance of developing case studies and examples of good practice that demonstrate the impact of special and heritage collections and the work of professionals supporting them.
The research will be guided by several key questions, including:
To address these questions, the project will use a mixed-methods approach. A sector-wide survey of RLUK member libraries will explore how collections are currently framed and how institutions are rearticulating their purpose and value. Interviews with senior library and other leaders will examine strategic planning, alignment with institutional priorities, and the opportunities and challenges facing collections in the current funding climate. In addition, an analysis of professional role descriptions will investigate how workforce expectations and required competencies are evolving across the sector.
The project will produce a series of outputs intended to support advocacy, strategic planning, and professional development. These will include a research report outlining key findings and trends, case studies demonstrating diverse models of civic engagement and impact, and seminar sessions focused on articulating the value of special and heritage collections. Further blog posts will share emerging insights throughout the project and reflect on the findings once the work is complete.
As research libraries continue to navigate significant change, this project seeks to contribute to wider conversations about the civic role of special and heritage collections. Through its outputs, RLUK hopes to support the sector in making the case for sustained investment, innovation, and engagement in this area.
Author spotlight: Christina Kamposiori, Programme Officer
Christina is interested in the role of the research library in supporting scholarship and fostering innovation in the digital age. She has also an interest in audience engagement and the facilitation of research and learning through collections.
