THE Awards 2019: Library team nominated for student-centred approach

Our Library team has been shortlisted for the Outstanding Library Team award at the Times Higher Education (THE) Awards.

Recent extensions and refurbishments have transformed the Albert Sloman Library into a flexible learning space at the heart of our University. But it is the work of our whole library team, across three campuses, to ensure our library spaces work for staff and students, which make the improvements a real success story, with library use increasing by nearly 20,000 visits a year. 

Consultation with the Library Advisory Group has led to improvements including new IT-rich individual and team study spaces throughout the library, a huge expansion of the digital library, 24-hour opening, self-service kiosks, unlimited loans and the abolition of fines. 

Support for students has been crucial and includes easily-accessible online reading lists for every course and a two-week programme, running in June, to help Masters students with their dissertations. Led by library staff, it incorporates input from across the university, including wellbeing and academic skills support. 

Cathy Walsh, Director of Library Services and University Librarian, said: “I’m thrilled that the library team has been shortlisted for this award. We pride ourselves on shaping our services around the needs of students and academic staff and working collaboratively to achieve this. Being shortlisted for this prestigious award is a tribute to the hard work and commitment of the whole team .”

The THE Award winners will be announced on 28 November, at a ceremony at London’s Grosvenor House Hotel.