CREATIVE PEOPLE
Imagine2030
Annual report 2024-25
Advanced Knowledge Programme
This year marked the successful conclusion of the 2024–25 pilot of the Advanced Knowledge Programme, a cross-team staff development initiative collaboratively designed by the Teaching, Learning and Students (TLS) and Library Experience (LEx) Teams. The programme provided a structured opportunity for LEx staff to deepen their knowledge and understanding of TLS services and working practices, with the goal of enhancing their ability to support a broader range of Library user enquiries.
Ten LEx team members, across two cohorts, participated in four-month learning periods focused on five core areas of TLS service provision. By the end of the programme, participants reported increased confidence, improved skills, and a stronger ability to respond to and refer first-line enquiries - ultimately improving the support offered to Library users and adding value to their overall experience.
Due to the pilot’s success, the programme has now been embedded into standard staff development practice within both LEx and TLS Teams. Furthermore, the initiative has established a transferable framework that can be adapted for use across other Library teams, supporting professional development and fostering greater cross-team collaboration and knowledge sharing.
Together25
As part of the activities to celebrate 125 years of The John Rylands Library, we chose Rylands as the venue for our annual Library staff conference, Together.
Around 250 colleagues enjoyed the conference programme which included tours of the building and exhibitions, alongside the usual short presentations and breakout sessions. As ever, we finished the day with the Rylands Awards, presented by Professor Duncan Ivison, President and Vice-Chancellor of The University of Manchester.
Multiverse apprenticeships
Several members of the Artificial Intelligence and Ideas Adoption (AIIA) Directorate undertook Multiverse apprenticeships. They explored opportunities for using datasets available to the Electronic Resources Helpdesk team, such as access broker extensions and EZProxy usage data; explored data regarding engagement with archive collections on the Archives Hub; and investigated improving completion rates of Data Management Plans (DMPs) for the Office for Open Research.
Each gained a variety of hard and soft skills that positively impacted both themselves and the Library. Hard skills include:
- Learning about Excel features for efficient data cleaning, visualisations and macro automation (for example for quicker identification of suspicious usage in EZProxy data).
- Producing Power Bi dashboards to present visualisations for journal usage in electronic resources and archive engagement for our Library collections on the Archives Hub. This helps reveal the impact of promotional activities such as blog posts and conference presentations, as well as providing data for future decisions on priorities, resources and funding applications.
- Working with Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Optical Character Recognition (a process of machine reading of documents) to produce a tool to simplify the upload of DMPs to the University DMPonline. The aim is to make it much easier for researchers to upload their DMPs in future.
New soft skills include communication and presentation in a range of media to meet various learning styles, recognition of possible analysis and networking opportunities that will benefit business decisions, and identification of any other possible applications of the relevant data.
Staff Learning and Development
The Library Staff Learning and Development Hub was launched this year to ensure equitable access to professional growth opportunities for Library colleagues. This initiative underscores our commitment to fostering career development, job satisfaction, and long-term retention across every grade and role.
Central to the Hub’s design is one-stop access to personal development planning tools, University and Library training, and practical guidance. Tailored pathways ensure that every staff member - whether in frontline services, technical support, or leadership - can easily navigate resources suited to their career goals and responsibilities.
Developed by the Library Staff Learning and Development Group through a co-creative process, the Hub reflects real needs identified through extensive feedback and skills audits. The modular structure allows for continuous refinement and expansion, meaning opportunities and resources can be added in response to emerging priorities.
Our managers play a pivotal role in championing the Hub by embedding its resources into Performance and Development Review objectives and staff are empowered to curate their own development journey.
Looking ahead, the Hub will expand to include Library-led development, role specific training and inclusive career progression opportunities. By continuously aligning learning pathways with strategic goals, the Hub serves as a central pillar in our staff development framework ensuring all Library staff have access to the training and resources needed to build skills and move forward in their career.
Celebrating 125 years of The John Rylands Library
In 2025 the Rylands celebrated 125 years of welcoming the public to the Library with a special programme of events and exhibitions including:
- Opening a new Collections Gallery displaying over 40 remarkable objects telling the history of the library through collections. The new gallery featured on BBC Radio Manchester in a piece titled Preserving the past.
- The Secret Public: LGBTQ Pop 1955-1985, a special exhibition exploring the influence of LGBTQ performers on popular culture. The exhibition was based on Professor Jon Savage’s book and displayed items from Jon’s archive alongside material from the British Pop Archive and never-before exhibited song lyrics loaned from Pet Shop Boys.
- Inviting visitors to help celebrate the Rylands’ birthday as part of Manchester Festival of Libraries. Activities included building tours, printing press demonstrations and an open afternoon in the Research Room.
OUR ACHIEVEMENTS
Awards
Fariha Agha: Advance HE Fellowship (FHEA)
Eloise Anderson: Advance HE Fellowship (FHEA)
Adam Cooke: The University of Manchester Teaching Excellence Award for Inclusive Education
Tabitha Glennon: Advance HE Fellowship (FHEA)
Szaffi Jarbath: Advance HE Fellowship (FHEA)
Helen Monagle: Aurora Women in Leadership, Advance HE
Christine Sweet: Aurora Women in Leadership, Advance HE
Janette Watson: Aurora Women in Leadership, Advance HE
Publications
Barton, C., Double, J., Ganeshwaran, N., James, A., Reed, P., & Stubbs, J. (2025). Spicy Data Skills Open Science Program with Library Carpentry. In E. Bongiovanni, M. A. Gainey, C. Griego, & L. McKee (Eds.), The Open Science Cookbook (pp. 41-47). Association of College & Research Libraries.
Blake, J. & Pearson, L. (2025). The power of an open door: student partnership and supportive transition to higher education. Perspectives: Policy and Practice in Higher Education, 29(3), 132–137. https://doi.org/10.1080/13603108.2025.2474558
Booth, E. (2025). A Strategic Framework for Supporting Open Access Monographs: Library Acquisitions Principles and Assessment Criteria. Taking Stock, 32, 40-44.
Coulson, K., Hooley, Z., Barton, C., Hancock-Smith, B., Dowds, J., Allen, S. & George-Briant, K. (2024). Artificial intelligence: how have Learning Developers engaged? Journal of Learning Development in Higher Education, (32). https://doi.org/10.47408/jldhe.vi32.1422
Hartshorne, S. (2025). Manipulating Rare Print Metadata with ChatGPT. Catalogue & Index, (211), 9-19.
Monagle, H., Norris, G., Rapp, E., Landy, A., & Blanton-Watkins, J. (2024). Serials Spoken Here. Serials Review, 50(1–2), 66–73. https://doi.org/10.1080/00987913.2024.2411653
Newnham, P. & Shaikh, C. (2025). Lancaster University Library Schools Engagement. Journal of Information Literacy, 19(1), 69-82. http://dx.doi.org/10.11645/19.1.645
Tomlinson, N. & Kneen, S. (2024). Bringing embodied approaches to on-campus research methods teaching for large STEM cohorts: design, challenges, learning. Journal of Learning Development in Higher Education, (32). https://doi.org/10.47408/jldhe.vi32.1433.
Conferences
Abbott, T. & El Mokdad, S. (2025, July 2-3). ‘Fostering belonging through a Student Partners Network: collaborating with students to shape their success and development opportunities’, The University of Manchester Teaching and Learning Conference, The University of Manchester, Manchester.
Barringham, D. (2025, June 3-5). ‘Using Microsoft Power BI to Measure Output and Engagement Within Library Teaching Programmes’, International Conference on Performance Measurement in Libraries (LibPMC), Liverpool.
Blake, J. & Hatherill. S. (2025, July 2-3). ‘Fringe - Belonging Network’, The University of Manchester Teaching and Learning Conference, The University of Manchester, Manchester.
Booth, E. (2025, April 24). ‘Cataloguing with Confidence’, CILIP Metadata & Discovery Group and Academic Libraries North Workshop, Manchester.
Booth, E. (2024, November 13). ‘A Strategic Framework for Supporting Open Access Monographs: Library Acquisitions Principles and Assessment Criteria,’ National Acquisitions Group Webinar Week, online.
Bracegirdle, S., Byström, K. (2024, September 25-28). ‘Research on optimal numbers of copies and consequences for shared print programmes and EPICo’, 2nd EPICo Conference, Barcelona.
Bracegirdle, S., Mateer, H. (2024, September 25-28). ‘Working together to develop a national collection: the UK Print Book Collection’, 2nd EPICo Conference, Barcelona.
Bracegirdle, S., Saunders, J. (2024, November 18). ‘UK Print Book Collection’, SCONUL Autumn Conference, Birmingham.
Caradonna-Snow, L., and Furness, M. (2025, April 9-11). ‘The conservation of the Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji: Challenges and outcomes of a community-oriented project’, The 20th International Seminar on the Care and Conservation of Manuscripts, Copenhagen.
Douglas, M. (2025, June 3-5). ‘Delivering a Student Sentiment Survey at The University of Manchester Library’, International Conference on Performance Measurement in Libraries (LibPMC), Liverpool.
Hirst, D. & Cox, R. (2025, July 2-3). ‘Creating open and collaborative learning spaces for staff-student co-creation' The University of Manchester Teaching and Learning Conference, The University of Manchester, Manchester.
Ivison, D., Danquah, A. & Jarbath, S. (2025, July 2-3). ‘Strategy, Teaching and Learning’, The University of Manchester Teaching and Learning Conference, The University of Manchester, Manchester.
Jones, S., Agha, F., Valavan Vetrigo, R.C. & Shaw, O. (2025, July 2-3). ‘Beyond satisfaction surveys: what university teaching really means to students’, The University of Manchester Teaching and Learning Conference, The University of Manchester, Manchester.
Kneen, S., Inala, P., Tomlinson, N. & Pearson, L. (2024, November 21-22). ‘Shut up & Write at The University of Manchester Library: Collaboration, Community, Connection’, Community in Writing Symposium, Cambridge.
Martin, J. (2024, November 9). ‘Florence Lockwood, An Ordinary Life’, Pioneering Huddersfield Women, Brian Jackson House, Huddersfield.
Martin, J. (2025, June 12). ‘Investigative Journalism and the modern history archive collections at the Rylands’, Harold Evans Investigative Journalism symposium, The John Rylands Library, Manchester.
Martin, T. (2025, January 13-17). ‘Accessible training and staying relevant in a rapidly changing environment’, N8 Centre of Excellence in Computationally Intensive Research (N8 CIR) Digital Research Infrastructure (DRI) Retreat 2025, Manchester.
Martin, T. (2025, January 13-17). ‘Provision of training materials and digital support networks for academics’, N8 Centre of Excellence in Computationally Intensive Research (N8 CIR) Digital Research Infrastructure (DRI) Retreat 2025, Manchester.
Monagle, H., Ridge, V. (2025, March 31- April 2). ‘Using data to analyse Read and Publish deals and a look to how we adapt our processes in a post TA future/world’, UKSG 48th Annual Conference, Brighton.
Morrison, N., Prince, K. & Balan, S. (2025, July 2-3). ‘Classic UoM – student experience issues’, The University of Manchester Teaching and Learning Conference, The University of Manchester, Manchester.
Nazir, A. (2025, May 19-22). ‘Advocating for Change: Rethinking Business Data Contracts for Academic Research’, Joint Meeting Vienna 2025: American Business Library Directors (ABLD), Asia Pacific Business Schools Librarian Group (APBLSG), Consejo Latinoamericano de Escuelas de Administration (CLADEA) and European Business Schools Librarians Group (EBSLG), Vienna.
Ogden, M. & Whyley-Smith, B. (2025, April 14-16). ‘Race across the library: Demystifying the library space’, LILAC, Cardiff.
Penner, J. (2024, December 5). ‘What Is an Ancient Liturgy?’, Ehrhardt Seminar Programme 2024-25, School of Arts, Languages and Cultures, The University of Manchester, Manchester.
Prince, K., Howe, R., Cox, R., Valavan Vetrigo, R.C. & Balan, S. (2025, July 2-3). ‘Generating and Communicating Ideas: How co-creation empowers the student voice within teaching materials and beyond’, The University of Manchester Teaching and Learning Conference, The University of Manchester, Manchester.
Robinson, J., Singh, G. (2024, November 7). ‘Sikh Heritage in Colonial Collections; Conservation, Digitisation and Community Engagement with Contested Collections’, Association of Historic and Fine Art Photographers Conference, Maritime Museum, Liverpool.
Scott, K., Sullivan, L. (2025, July 11). ‘Shared solutions: Improving digital usability through cross institutional partnerships’, ALN Conference, Manchester Metropolitan University Business School, Manchester.
Sharma, M. (2025, June 18-19). ‘The Re:Collections programme for anti-racist museums’, AIM - Association of Independent Museums Annual Conference, Mary Rose Museum, Portsmouth.
Shaw, O. (2025, July 2-3). ‘Student Feedback and University Inaction: Message from the front’, The University of Manchester Teaching and Learning Conference, The University of Manchester, Manchester.
Smith, L. (2025, July 29-31). 'Inclusive Archiving and Collaborative Storytelling: the ‘Community-led Collecting, Fit for the Future’ Project’, (Discovering Collections, Discovering Communities) DCDC25, Durham University.
Sutcliffe de Oliveira, G., Bramwell, E., Prince, K., Barton, C., Mushtaq, Y. & Mooney, J. (2025, July 2-3). ‘How can digital wellbeing be embedded within the Teaching, Learning and Student Experience? Sharing lessons learned from the Digital Peer Learning Network’, The University of Manchester Teaching and Learning Conference, The University of Manchester, Manchester.
Talbot, C. J. (2025, March 19-21). ‘Trust, Integrity, AI and the Research Library’, (Research Libraries UK Conference 2025) RLUK25, Liverpool.
Theis, A., Bharadwaj Gangrekalve Manoj, P. & Cox, R. (2025, April 14-16). ‘Championing student staff partnerships amidst the turmoil of GenAI’, LILAC, Cardiff.
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