Imagine2030 Annual Report

Our Library reaches hundreds of thousands of people every year on and beyond campus. Manchester is the UK's largest single-site university and our Library is at its heart. This year we have continued to project the role and purpose of the Library through our responsibilities to Research, Teaching and Learning and Social Responsibility. In so doing, we have reached out to the country's largest student population, one of the UK's principal and most prestigious research communities, the country's second largest city and the HE sector’s largest global alumni.

We speak to all these people as communities and as much as possible as individuals, focusing on the lives and successes of each of our students, the personal and team requirements of our researchers and in manifold ways through the massively diverse audiences and groups here in Manchester, regionally, nationally and internationally.

Our spaces, our services, our collections and our amazing people make it possible for us to operate effectively on all of these levels. The same is true for all of those who use our Library, who partner with us and who work closely with us in our mission to change lives, enhance our city and enrich all who come into contact with us through new knowledge, beautiful environments and collections, which place us amongst the very few genuinely great libraries of the world.

This year has been one of great achievement across so many fields of expertise and areas of activity. Without the Library, our great University could not function, and without the incredible support of our University our wonderful Library could not operate. All libraries are ultimately a reflection of their host organisation and shared sense of ownership. It is with continued privilege and honour that I lead not only one of the UK's most vital academic libraries but also one of the country's most significant cultural organisations. We operate with pride in our Library team and our many partnerships here in Manchester, across the UK and around the world.

Thank you to everyone, many of whom you will read about in this Annual Report, for helping us contribute so much to so many.

Professor Christopher Pressler, University Librarian and Director of The John Rylands Library

This year, we explored increasingly creative ways to engage our students and deliver our services.  We facilitated an introductory and interactive session - 'Escape the Library' - to more than 300 participants, we celebrated staff achievements at our annual conference Together24, and our staff embraced innovative practices to drive collaboration and align with our Imagine2030 vision.

Find out more about our creative people.

A symposium marked ten years of the Student Team, bringing together 40+ institutions to explore themes including equity, student voice, and academic success through partnership. We also supported University student services this year such as ID card collection, hosted international student visa check-ins, and provided digital support for MyManchester, the University's student portal and primary access point for student emails and timetables.

The Library continued to empower students and drive innovation.

This year we hosted an exclusive conversation with the iconic music duo Pet Shop Boys, attracting global fans to Rylands and previewing the upcoming The Secret Public: LGBTQ Pop exhibition. 

We curated new collections and made advances in our digitisation work, showcasing innovations in image and metadata processing. 

We also introduced many new resources including the BFI Player and Libby app. 

From preserving history to enhancing access, the Library continued to lead in collections and user engagement. 

This year, we streamlined procedures and removed fees to enable Library access for over 2,000 schools and colleges and 260+ new community members. A new pre-arrival resource Life at University, co-created with students, supports offer holders with personalised tools, reflective blogs, and advice. Progress was also made with an Inclusive Recruitment Toolkit to promote fairness during application and interview, aligning with the Library's commitment to a diverse, equitable workforce.

A pilot project for the staff Multi-Faith Prayer and Contemplation Space was launched at Main Library. This space offers an inclusive environment for staff, with accessible facilities and a feedback mechanism to evolve the space.

From enhancing access to embedding EDI, the Library continues to drive positive change for its community.

This year we developed cross-University resources including  Academic Integrity and  AI Teaching Guidance, integrating GenAI insights into teaching. Our new Artificial Intelligence and Ideas Adoption (AIIA) Library Directorate explores AI's role in teaching, research, and community engagement, forging partnerships with Sister Innovation District and external collaborators. 

We also piloted AI tools to streamline processes and consolidate research impact data, and more. 

The Library is shaping the future by embedding AI into its services and fostering academic integrity. 

This year the Alan Gilbert Learning Commons underwent a refurbishment, replacing carpets and installing a new Cosy Campus space.

We made improvements to our security through new RFID gates, and updated essential software and equipment so that our our digital collections are better protected for the future.

These enhancements reflect the Library's commitment to creating inviting, efficient, and secure spaces for students and staff.

This year, we have made significant strides in conservation, open research, and social responsibility.

The Rylands Papyrus Demotic 9 was restored after a four-year project using innovative enzyme-based treatments to reverse damage caused by sunflower oil. The Office for Open Research (OOR) launched the Open Research Tracker, enabling real-time monitoring of Open Access (OA) and Data Management Plan (DMP) compliance, with plans for further integration. The OOR also strengthened its support for OA monographs, releasing a strategic framework, joining new OA schemes, and converting 15 research titles to OA.

The Library also introduced the Open Research Skills Framework and revamped its My Research Essentials programme.

Find out more about the Library's innovations this year in research.

In November 2023, the Library formed its own Environmental Sustainability (ES) Steering group to set priorities to make existing practices more sustainable and effect behavioural changes from our staff and Library users. 

This year our MA students gained hands-on experience in photography, conservation, and metadata through placements with the Imaging Archive Collection, contributing to Library Digital Collections and sharing their insights on the Special Collections blog.

These initiatives highlight the Library's dedication to excellence, inclusivity, and innovative learning opportunities.