I am delighted to introduce you to our new Library and Learning Resources Strategy – ‘Our next chapter’. It has been developed in partnership with students, staff and external collaborators and sets out our ambitions and approach to delivering outstanding, value-added services, infrastructure and expertise. I look forward to working with you as we deliver our next chapter.
Neil DonohueDirector of Library and Learning Resources | University Librarian

Vision and approach

"Through ambitious collaboration and partnership working, we will create and deliver services, infrastructure, expertise and experiences that empower our students and researchers to reach their potential and make a difference in the world."

Library and Learning Resources operates at the heart of the student experience, with multiple touchpoints through the student journey. From pre-arrival to engagement with our alumni we enrich the student experience through our commitment to delivering excellent student-centred services across our campus network and beyond. Going forward we will seek opportunities to strengthen our relationships with partners, be key players in the delivery of the university’s academic framework and support our diverse student body, our academics and professional service colleagues to succeed. 

Strategic aim

Create a dynamic, inclusive learning environment and service model that is student-centred, activates student voice and enables academic and professional achievement throughout the student journey

 

Strategic ambitions

  1. Our students will be co-creators in service design, evaluation and delivery through the implementation of a new Library Student Partners initiative.
  2. Working collaboratively we will implement a library and study space programme that delivers inspiring environments that are pedagogically connected and facilitate seamless access to physical and digital resources.
  3. We will embed academic and information literacies, leading on the design and delivery of inclusive, curriculum-linked workshops that aim to enhance academic achievement.
  4. We will develop students’ ability to understand, evaluate and think critically about the application of current and emerging technologies and data in a digitally enabled world.
  5. We will be holistic in our support for students, working collaboratively to deliver targeted well-being and E&I initiatives that develop the whole student and that are sensitive to the needs of our diverse student body.
  6. We will work to develop greater personalisation of services to reflect the needs of our students and user communities.
  7. We will develop dynamic library collections that facilitate access to resources that reflect different perspectives, cultures and backgrounds and the diversity of the communities we serve.
  8. We will foster closer relationships with our partners and strategic collaborators to deliver joined-up services and inclusive approaches to student support.
  9. We will explore new publishing models and methods of discovery to increase our digital learning resource provision, maximising resource discoverability and optimising our budget spend and delivering value for money.

Library and Learning Resources plays an integral role in delivering the university’s scholarly endeavour. Through the provision of specialist research resources and expertise we work in partnership with our academic and professional service colleagues in the creation, dissemination and preservation of our university’s research outputs. In an ever-increasing complex and competitive environment, we are presented with a challenge and opportunity to grow our infrastructure, collections and expertise to deliver the university’s research priorities and maximise the impact of our research. 

Strategic aim

Advance and promote an open research culture that enables research excellence, dissemination and impact through the development of our research collections, services and expertise and leveraging our professional networks.

Strategic ambitions

  1. We will design and deliver a reinvigorated and expanded research services offering to facilitate researcher achievement and impact.
  2. We will develop targeted library resources and support for professional service colleagues wishing to engage in research and publishing.
  3. We will implement new platforms to support digital preservation and discovery of the institutional memory, research outputs and archival collections.
  4. We will champion open research practices and review and monitor transformative and other open publishing agreements that facilitate maximum impact of our institution’s research outputs for societal benefit.
  5. We will implement a new collections strategy that reflects the changing publishing environment, a just-in-time approach to resource acquisition and delivery and embraces a digital-by-default ethos (where appropriate), to meet the needs of our users.

Library and Learning Resources brings together the skills and expertise of multiple professions and networks and this is one of our greatest strengths. It enables us to apply our knowledge and expertise to complex issues beyond the traditional boundaries of ‘libraries’ and to play an active role in delivering the university’s mission and engagement with the local community. We are collaborative and future-focused, recognising the need to adapt and develop to ensure we are ready for future challenges and opportunities. We will develop a ’one department’ approach to service delivery and development, building a true sense of community amongst the Library and Learning Resources team – digitally, physically and across our campus network. 

Strategic aim

Instigate a bold, ambitious staff and workforce development programme, creating opportunities for diversification, continual development, professional and scholarly recognition and career progression

Strategic ambitions

  1.  Through a new ‘Library-for-all’ initiative we will position Library and Learning Resources as a key enabler of the university’s learning culture, supporting continuing professional development of all university staff through the provision of dedicated training and resources.
  2. We will undertake a comprehensive review of the skills and expertise needed now and in the future to support LLR colleagues in their roles, and their continuing professional development and success in their careers
  3. We will grow our civic engagement and outreach activities to support our local communities and the university’s position in the city and region. This will include a dedicated programme of activities focused on local schools and colleges.
  4. In collaboration with Human Resources, we will review our roles and recruitment practices to attract the best talent and increase the diversity of our workforce

Library and Learning Resources has a proud history of service innovation and improvement, from the co-development of the unified library management system with the Universities of Kent and Greenwich to the introduction of new services and facilities such as Augustine House and Hall. However, as our student population and institution changes, we must be ready to take our learning and apply it in this constantly evolving environment. We will act as change-agents in the institution, proposing, supporting and leading change projects that will enhance the student and staff experience. We will not be afraid to experiment and will apply our expertise to the benefit and betterment of the university and the communities it serves.

Strategic aim

Cultivate a culture of continuous improvement and collaboration that delivers service innovation, sustainability and meaningful impact on human and environmental wellbeing.

Strategic ambitions

  1. As ‘third space’ leaders we will be change agents, working and partnering across academic and professional services and deploying our unique skillset for institutional benefit.
  2. We will develop a data analytics programme that harnesses our service data, qualitative and quantitative research, user experience techniques and feedback to support our service development and the university in achieving student retention and success.
  3. We will enhance the discoverability of our collections through the implementation of new tools and a new Library Services discovery platform that supports the user journey.
  4. We will implement systems and processes that streamline enquiry management, taking a digital-first and self-service approach to enable support at point of need, and allows us to maximise the value of our human interactions.
  5. We will undertake a comprehensive review of our services to ensure they are fit for purpose, responsive to our environment and meet the needs of our institution.
  6. We will be leaders in information management, harnessing our skills and expertise to support the institution’s information, records and knowledge management needs.

Vision 2030 values and Library and Learning Resources

We will embed the university’s values in everything we do:

We will make meaningful improvements in human and environmental wellbeing, beyond harm reduction, now and in the future. We are committed to the delivery of sustainable services and will take action to ensure that we make ethical decisions regarding our choice of suppliers. We will also invest in the development and retention of our staff and students. 

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