Imagine2030
A Library Redefined
"Imagine2030 is one of the most significant bodies of activity undertaken by The University of Manchester Library in its long history.
As The University of Manchester moves into its third century during the course of Imagine2030, the University will reimagine and confirm its status as the home of one of the world’s great libraries."
Professor Christopher Pressler
University Librarian and Director of The John Rylands Library
Background
Originating in 1824, The University of Manchester Library is the third largest academic library system in the United Kingdom, at the heart of the country’s largest single-site University. Comprising over 10 million physical items, The University of Manchester Library is the largest non-legal deposit library, the only National Research Library in the North and holds the most extensive digital collections of any academic library in the UK.
Imagine2030 is The University of Manchester Library’s vision and priorities for the next period of its development. It is engaging and informing our many communities of researchers, students, visiting scholars, staff and public visitors. An operational plan underpins Imagine2030 and delivers our ambitions for:
- a comprehensive Library estate strategy,
- internationalisation,
- equity, diversity and inclusion,
- a collections-led core business,
- an ideas-led workforce, and
- on our critical role in support of the University’s core goals of Research and Discovery, Teaching and Learning and Social Responsibility.
Imagine2030 is the Library’s response and contribution to the University’s Strategic Plan, ‘Manchester 2035’ This is available at:
Purpose
From leading-edge learning spaces and digital environments to the gothic masterpiece that is The John Rylands Library, The University of Manchester Library provides students, researchers and the public with unique collections, spaces and professional expertise in disciplines across the Humanities, Arts, Sciences, Engineering, Health and Medicine.
In redefining the role and purpose of our Library, Imagine2030 is engaging our staff, our University and our civic, national and international partners in a transformative body of work guided by nine pillars:
- Creative People
Our people are trusted, collaborative and diverse - Engaged Students
Our students are partners in our ambition - Manchester Collections
Our collections are amongst the greatest in the world - Open Principles & Equality
Our inclusive ethos is to open knowledge to society - Our AI
Our Library expands using AI and ideas adoption - Remarkable Spaces
Our Library offers boundless variety and inspiration - Research Innovation
Our Library supports transformative research - Sustainability
Our Library seeks to live and work sustainably - Valued Services
Our services are a key part of university and city life
Strategic programmes
The pillars will be delivered through three strategic programmes:
Our people
The University of Manchester Library Executive Team is organised into four directorates, each of which delivers strategic vision and planning for one of the most complex academic library systems in the United Kingdom.
Underpinning the strategic role of the Library Executive Team, the Library Leadership Team works across all directorates and leads on the Library’s Operational Plan.
The University of Manchester Library has a presence across the University, city, region and around the world through its on campus and online collections, services and people. As National Research Library North it has a further special role as a key part of the United Kingdom’s research infrastructure.
Christopher Pressler
University Librarian and Director of The John Rylands Library
At the heart of the Library, the Directorate of the University Librarian leads on the strategic development of Special Collections, while also supporting the Library Executive Team, human resources, finance, and staff development.
Sandra Bracegirdle
Director of Collection Strategies
Collection development, collection management, open research, research services and strategic space planning are core activities for the University and delivering on the Library’s role as National Research Library in the North.
Ciaran Talbot
Director of AI and Ideas Adoption
The Directorate of AI and Ideas Adoption leads on systems and digital development and delivers the Library’s vision in the context of Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning. The AIIA portfolio also includes responsibility for developing the Library’s role in Sister, The University of Manchester’s £1.7 billion innovation district.
Katy Woolfenden
Deputy University Librarian and Director of Education, Experience and Strategic Insights
The UK’s largest student population studies at one of its most research-intensive institutions. Working collaboratively with our Business Planning, Teaching and Learning, and Customer Services teams, our Library builds strong relationships with faculties and students to design and deliver exceptional teaching, valued services, and modern collections of the highest quality.
Strategic programmes
Our Library
For Manchester staff, students, alumni and communities
The 'Our Library' programme delivers on the legacy and potential of The University of Manchester Library to provide memorable, rich and dynamic services to our staff, students, alumni and communities. The Library also plays a key role in the University’s social responsibility activity.
National Research Library in the North
Vital to UK research
The University of Manchester Library is one of only five National Research Libraries in the United Kingdom and the only one outside of Oxford, Cambridge and London. National Research Library in the North is a confirmation and reimagination of Manchester’s leading and instinctively collaborative national role.
University of Manchester Library Global
A renowned international partner
As one of the world’s great libraries we are continually seeking new partnerships, ways of working and ground-breaking projects. This ensures that our collections and staff, which are both drawn from all over the world, are able to disseminate open knowledge to open societies.
Measures of Success
Global Influence
The Library will make a significant contribution to the reputation and status of The University of Manchester as one of the world’s great libraries within one of the world’s great universities.
Research and Discovery
The Library will play an integral role in the research lifecycle, partnering with researchers from development to research impact, and will also enable the University to deliver its mission on open research. media and the formation of legal systems.
Teaching and Learning
The Library is a valued part of student life and academic success and will continue to listen and respond to the infinite variety of support required on campus and online by the country’s largest single-site student population.
Impact on Society
The Library is an outward-facing aspect of University activity, and will develop programmes of public engagement with research and collections as well as working to promote the acknowledged value of libraries to society.
Our People, Our Values
The Library listens to those who use and work with us and will employ this evidence to create change, in conjunction with building a trusted workplace for staff and students with wellbeing at its centre.
Innovation
The Library has considerable capacity to lead on changes to the ways in which large research libraries work, and will do so in collaboration with challenging and rewarding partnerships in support of Manchester’s intention to be recognized as Europe’s most innovative university.
Carbon Reduction
The Library has one of the largest physical footprints of any single UK academic library system, and will work with many partners to contribute to the city’s decarbonisation pathway and 2038 zero carbon target.
Annual Reports
Each year the Library publishes an annual report which tracks progress with the Imagine2030 vision. The reports showcase how we have progressed our Imagine2030 Lead Priority Areas alongside the delivery of our day-to-day activities. Links to our annual reports dating back to 2021 can be found below.
Partnerships
In addition to our internal associations, The University of Manchester Library has multiple partners beyond the University. We thank them for their engagement and look forward to working further in particular with the following organisations:
- UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) Research Libraries UK (RLUK)
- The Russell Group
- Cambridge-Oxford-UCL-Imperial-Manchester (COLIM)
- N8 Research Consortium
- The Northern Collaboration
- North West Academic Libraries (NoWAL)
- Manchester City Council
- The UK National Research Libraries (NRLs)Association of Research Libraries (ARL)
- Society of College, National and University Libraries (SCONUL)
- Council on Library and Information Resources (CLIR)
- Consortium of European Research Libraries (CERL)
- OCLC
- Ligue des Bibliothèques Européennes de Recherche (LIBER)
- Jisc
- DART-Europe Consortium
- Cambridge-Manchester Digital Collections Programme
- JRRI-Folger Library Fellowships
- JRRI-Huntington Library Fellowships
- JRRI-Library of Congress Fellowships
- JRRI-Newberry Library Fellowships
- International Federation of Library Associations
Sites
The University of Manchester Library is essential to The University of Manchester’s research and discovery, teaching and learning, and social responsibility goals. Our Library works closely with faculties, students, Professional Services, the University’s Cultural Institutions and our creative, humanities, scientific, charitable, civic, national and international partners in sustaining one of the world’s great libraries at the heart of one of the world’s great universities.
Built with Shorthand