The Challenge: We know that libraries are changing: the way researchers are communicating their findings is in transition and while collections remain at our core, many researchers and students value our services as much as our books and manuscripts. We therefore need the culture of our libraries to be ever open to change and innovation and our staff must continue to be willing to embrace new skills and competences. In this way libraries will remain crucial components of the research infrastructure both in higher education and more broadly.
Provide thought leadership through debate and discussion, promoting best-practice, creative thinking and innovation in all aspects of research library activity
- Deliver stimulating programmes for our conferences and member meetings and provide a range of communication channels for debate and discussion
- Commission horizon-scanning research to identify future priorities and scope the shape of future library provision
- Explore new platforms for communication with our members and the wider community
Engage RLUK members in measuring and demonstrating the value of their libraries
- Explore the practicalities of establishing a standard set of metrics to allow national and international benchmarking with peers
- Promote to funders and Government the impact and contribution of RLUK libraries to higher education in the UK
Nurture new skills and competences within member libraries
- Work with Information Science schools to shape both CPD and professional training for students, fitting them for the challenges presented by modern academic libraries and the changing landscape of higher education
- Continue to develop the RLUK Associate Directors Network (ADN)
- Expand the RLUK mentoring programme
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Top image courtesy of Newcastle University Library