RLUK Research Libraries UK

📣 #RLUK27 CALL FOR PAPERS | The Living Library, Shaped by People | 10-12 Mar | Belfast Research libraries are living infrastructures of knowledge & progress. A library’s life is expressed via evolution - #RLUK27 will explore how this ‘life’ is shaped. Read the full #CFP at rlukconference.com

Earlier in the year we convened a meeting to reflect on the current repositories landscape in the UK. My colleague @williamjnixon.bsky.social has a write-up of the event with some thoughts on next steps. @rluk.ac.uk www.rluk.ac.uk/blog-post-se...

🧬 How is technology shaping and being reshaped within the research library? In an era of rapid technological change, how can we keep human needs, values & relationships at the centre of infrastructural developments? 🧬 #RLUK27 will explore this & more ⏳ #CFP open is open at rlukconference.com

We are recruiting for two posts within the Open Research team, part of University of Cambridge Libraries and Archives. • one full-time post on a permanent basis • one part-time post (18.25 hours) on a fixed-term basis for 2 years Apply by 4 Oct: https://loom.ly/kRSdmnU #CambridgeUniversityJobs

🧬 What role can research libraries play in reconciliation? Our collections are profoundly human & provide a shared ground for dialogue, understanding, reconciliation, collective healing & social cohesion. 🧬 #RLUK27 will explore this & more ⏳ #CFP open is open at rlukconference.com

🧬 What stories do research libraries tell about themselves? How we define ourselves & how we are understood raises imp Qs re: our value How do we demo as active force for econ dev, cultural vitality & social resilience? 🧬 #RLUK27 will explore this & more ⏳ #CFP open is open at rlukconference.com

We’re delighted to announce Dr Paul Bate as the British Library’s new Chief Executive Joining us from the UK Space Agency, Paul brings experience supporting world-class research communities. We look forward to welcoming his expertise at the Library. Read the full announcement here link.bl.uk/fc6

🟠 #RLUKICIL | Civic engagement through inclusive practice | 23 Sep This event will explore how libraries can strengthen civic engagement via inclusive practice - practical approaches to foster civic participation, social inclusion, & strengthen sense of belonging 🎟 Sign up: www.rluk.ac.uk/icil/

Join us on Wed 14 Oct (10-11) to celebrate the 1st birthday 🎂 of #UKPBC - transforming the way libraries safeguard access to scarce print monographs. We'll hear case studies on how #UKPBC works practice & how it benefits institutions and the wider library community. (Virtual) 🎟️ www.rluk.ac.uk/ow1p

The next round of the Professional Fellowship scheme, run with @rluk.ac.uk, is open to colleagues from the wider archive sector for the first time: www.rluk.ac.uk/professional... If you want to discuss ideas or need support finding a mentor, please email research@nationalarchives.gov.uk

𝗕𝗟𝗢𝗚 𝗣𝗢𝗦𝗧 | Beyond access: Inclusive practice & digital innovation in research libraries @ckamposiori.bsky.social considers how libraries are moving beyond traditional access via inclusive collections & research environments through digi innovation & equitable practice www.rluk.ac.uk/70v5

👩‍💻 #RLUKSPACE EVENT | 🗓️ 21 Sep 11:00-12:30 (BST) How can space planning & management enable innovation in libraries? This virtual event will explore practical strategies for managing library space to support innovation in a challenging economic climate. 🎟️ www.rluk.ac.uk/kyvi

Interested in learning more about the @rluk.ac.uk / The National Archives Professional Fellowship Scheme's application process or want to discuss a project idea? You can join one of the drop-in sessions we run in July & August. More information on how to register at: www.rluk.ac.uk/professional...

👩‍💻 #RLUKSPACE EVENT | 🗓️ 21 Sep 11:00-12:30 (BST) How can space planning & management enable innovation in libraries? This virtual event will explore practical strategies for managing library space to support innovation in a challenging economic climate. 🎟️ www.rluk.ac.uk/kyvi

We’re delighted to announce, with @rluk.ac.uk, the next round of the Professional Fellowship scheme – now open to colleagues from these organisations and the wider archive sector! Learn more about the scheme and sign up for a drop-in session on how to apply: www.rluk.ac.uk/professional...

Great opportunity for UK archives: the TNA-RLUK professional fellowships have been opened up to accreditation-eligible archives, not just RLUK members. Have a research topic you want to poke at over a year, with support from TNA or RLUK members? Have a look: www.rluk.ac.uk/professional...

@rluk.ac.uk & The National Archives are delighted to launch the 2026-27 round of their Professional Fellowship Scheme, which is open to staff from RLUK members, TNA &, for the first time, eligible archive sector partners. Find more about how to apply at: www.rluk.ac.uk/professional...

We have opened the call for papers for our next conference, which will be held in March 27 in the fabulous city of Belfast. The conference is open to all so please do consider submitting a paper.

As part of our Advancing Long-form Open Access Practice Project​ we are running a short(ish!) survey. If you are a UK academic librarian or research manager please do consider responding

Head of Public Programmes – £53,853, full-time, permanent Lead the development and delivery of our public engagement programme – covering exhibitions, events, outreach, and learning. 📅 Closes: 26/07/2026

Director of Collections Management – £77,843, full-time, permanent Lead the teams responsible for cataloguing, conservation, preservation, acquisitions, legal deposit, and collections logistics. 📅 Closes: 02/08/2026

UK Print Book Collection: Fabulous at 40! 🍾✨ In just its first year #UKPBC has grown to over 40 member libraries. 🎉 Thank you to all our members for helping to create a more sustainable and resilient future for UK print collections. 🚀 Next stop: 50 🔗 ukpbc.uk

BLOG POST | RLUK and the #TechnicianCommitment @williamjnixon.bsky.social on a recent @tech-commit.bsky.social @uk-itss.bsky.social event. RLUK was delighted to receive an Impact Award for our support of specialist technical expertise of librarians & #librariesXresearch work www.rluk.ac.uk/Blog-TC

A very nice piece from @jessicagardner.bsky.social on the Libraries Alliance (of which @rluk.ac.uk is a member) and our shared values across all types of libraries: librariesalliance.org.uk/the-librarie...

Calling all UK academic librarians & research support folks! Please complete this survey to inform strategic priorities for long-form #OA and areas where support could have the greatest impact - thank you! www.surveymonkey.com/r/Long-formOA @rluk.ac.uk @jisc.bsky.social @ukri.org @uksg.bsky.social

Thanks to Cathleen LeGrand (Leeds) & Karen Jackson (Warwick) for joining us at #RLUKICIL to dicsuss inclusive collecting, barriers to access, ethical stewardship + strategies for amplifying underrepresented voices. Chaired by @rosiehigman.bsky.social 📺 Watch a recording at www.rluk.ac.uk/ICILOD

🟠 #RLUKICIL | Collections & Equity: Rethinking Access & Representation | 🗓️ 10 June Cathleen LeGrand (Leeds) & Karen Jackson (Warwick) will speak re: inclusive collecting, barriers to access, ethical stewardship + strategies for amplifying underrepresented voices 🎟 at www.rluk.ac.uk/icil/

IARLA hosted 2 webinars in April exploring the Global Impact of Repositories. Colleagues from Japan, India & Americas shared local/national challenges & how repositories help to accelerate open access to research & data. 📺 You can watch recordings from both events at www.rluk.ac.uk/IARLA-repos

🟠 #RLUKICIL | Collections & Equity: Rethinking Access & Representation | 🗓️ 10 June Cathleen LeGrand (Leeds) & Karen Jackson (Warwick) will speak re: inclusive collecting, barriers to access, ethical stewardship + strategies for amplifying underrepresented voices 🎟 at www.rluk.ac.uk/icil/

We're pleased to announce a new RLUK project exploring the role of special & heritage collections in civic engagement & how collections can contribute more actively to institutional priorities, public value, & community engagement, led by @ckamposiori.bsky.social 📑 www.rluk.ac.uk/RLCE

Thanks to Gurtek Singh & @rylandsesoterica.bsky.social for speaking to #RLUKICIL about a collab between Manchester’s Sikh community & @uomlibrary.bsky.social & challenges of addressing colonial collections. Chair: @erikadelbecque.bsky.social 📺Watch a recording @ www.rluk.ac.uk/icil-on-dema...

Earlier this month we were pleased to support a @thefnl.bsky.social briefing on how Acceptance in Lieu (AIL), Cultural Gifts Scheme (CGS) & private treaty sales could benefit institutions, depositors & donors. 📺 A recording of this event is now available to watch at youtu.be/c6knmsTll20

🟠 #RLUKICIL | Sikh Heritage in Colonial Collections | 🗓️ 18 May Gurtek Singh & @rylandsesoterica.bsky.social will share collaborative project between Manchester’s Sikh community & @uomlibrary.bsky.social & discuss challenges of addressing colonial collections within the library 🎟 at bit.ly/RLUKICIL

🌼 As we announced at the RLUK Conference last week, our next conference, #RLUK27, will be held in-person at the Titanic Belfast Museum on 10-12 March 2027. We will announce the call for papers for the conference in the summer. We hope many of you will be able to join us in Belfast next year!

📺 Recordings from the #RLUK26 Conference that took place last week are now available to watch at rlukconference.com We would like to thank all the speakers, session chairs, delegates, and sponsors: AM and Clarivate, and the RLUK26 Planning Committee for helping to make the event a great success.

Listening to Lynda Kellam speak about her work with the @datarescueproject.org Inspired and in awe of the collective work to save public data by this group! This American in the USA is grateful for you and what you do! #RLUK26

Thanks @rluk.ac.uk for demonstrating the value of a virtual conference - over 130 attendees at our session this afternoon on adaptive leadership. Really engaging, valuable & different presentations with important shared takeaways and a very thoughtful discussion at the end. #RLUK26

Attending @rluk.ac.uk Virtual Conference on the topic of Stewardship in challenging times: the role of libraries in supporting civic society #RLUK26 Looking forward to hearing from other RLUK libraries about navigating supporting academic freedom whilst managing contested spaces & collections.

Looking forward to presenting our @ulsteruni.bsky.social Mosul Library Project with Janet Peden this afternoon at the @rluk.ac.uk Conference #RLUK26 #StewardshipInChallengingTimes #ReBuildingLibrariesPostConflict #VirtualConference #AcademicLibraries

Excited to be part of this! We are looking to identify practical actions that can be undertaken to enhance collaboration and coordinated support for Diamond OA publishing initiatives by libraries, particularly in the UK. site.pheedloop.com/event/rluk26... Do sign up if that resonates with you!

RLUK’s Collections Strategy Network has created a set of Shared Principles for the Evaluation and Acquisition of Open Access Monograph Models: www.rluk.ac.uk/shared-princ...

Here’s video of the panel I was on at #R2RConf about infrastructure to support research. My 2 main points were a) libraries are the ultimate research-supporting infrastructures and b) (with my DOAJ hat on) funders have to support the infrastructure that they rely on www.youtube.com/watch?v=flQ-...

It's the final week to register your place for the #RLUK26 Conference (virtual). Full details can be found at bit.ly/RLUKconf

We'll be running a Developing Inclusive Collections workshop @ #RLUK26 for colleagues interested in development of diverse&inclusive collections + expanding their skills & confidence in collection-based decolonisation in libraries & cultural orgs 🎟 Register for #RLUK26 (virtual) at bit.ly/RLUKconf

Pleased to be speaking at the House of Lords yesterday on the theme of Libraries and the growth economy- organised by @librariesconnected.bsky.social @rluk.ac.uk @ebscouk.bsky.social @cilip.bsky.social and to catch up with old friend Valerie Vaz MP

Thanks to @justinereilly.bsky.social for speaking to #RLUKICIL about how @neurodiversemuseum.bsky.social is working to overcome barriers & create more equitable spaces in museums & cultural orgs for neurodivergent people. Chaired by @mariacarnegie.bsky.social 📺 Watch a recording at bit.ly/ICILOND