Staff Development Weekly Update

ALN Staff Development Update #68 – 4 June 2025

This weekly update is intended to keep you up to date on ALN’s staff development programme; to highlight interesting initiatives being undertaken by ALN or its members; and to promote job opportunities in our member libraries. If you have any queries or any content you’d like to include, please get in touch at: academiclibrariesnorth@sconul.ac.uk

Events

June 2025

Innovative marketing and social media engagement in Academic Libraries 
Hosts: University of Hull
Date: Wednesday 4 June 2025
Time: 10.30 – 12.00 noon
Platform: Online via Teams

Sheffield Hallam University TeachMeet: Inclusive Learning
Hosts: Sheffield Hallam University
Date: Thursday 5 June 2025
Time: 10.00 – 4.00pm
Format: In-person
** Last 4 places remaining **

Turning up and tuning in: strategies for student engagement with library sessions 
Hosts: Northumbria University
Date: Wednesday 11 June 2025
Time: 9.30 – 11.30am
Platform: Online via Teams

Supporting and encouraging authors to publish Open Access Monographs with no REF2029 mandate 
Hosts: Research Support Group + Lancaster
Date: Thursday 12 June 2025
Time: 10am – 12 noon
Platform: Online via Teams

Students as co-creators: Part 2 Recruiting, training, managing and developing students
Hosts: Lancaster and Manchester Met
Date: Monday 30 June 2025
Time: 2:00 – 3.30pm
Location: Online via Teams

July 2025

GenAI: Collective Knowledge and Shared Progress
Hosts: Academic Librarians CoP
Date: Wednesday 2 July 2025
Time: 9:30am – 12 noon
Platform: Online via Teams
See below ‘Call for Participation’ for how you can get involved in the panel session 

Skill up with ALN! – an Introduction to Academic Skills
Hosts: Academic Skills CoP
Date: Monday 14 July 2025
Time: 12.00 – 1.00pm
Platform: Online via Teams

Making Music, Not Noise: Enhancing Student Communications at Edge Hill University
Hosts: Edge Hill University
Date: Friday 18 July 2025
Time: 10.00 – 12.30pm
Platform: Online via Teams

Call for Participation

Frontline Forum 4

The Frontline Forum is a pilot online discussion and development space for teams working directly with students and users. The forums are an opportunity to share best practice, engage with other ALN activities and learn about different service models and delivery types offered by different universities. The forum is aimed at staff who work on frontline desks and provide the first line of support to students and other library users.

We have run 4 forum sessions over the 2024-25 academic year, in November, January, March and May. We hope you managed to come along to at least one.

We are hoping to run the Frontline Forums again next academic year – the provisional dates (subject to change) are:

• Tuesday 18 November 2025, 10.00 – 11.30
• Thursday 22 January 2026, 2.00 – 3.30
• Wednesday 25 March 2026,  10.00 – 11.30
• Tuesday 2 June 2025, 2.00 – 3.30

ALN Conference 2025

Sustainable Innovation: moving forward in challenging times Conference Registration now open!

#ALN25 Conference 2025

Online via Teams – Wednesday 18 June 2025; In-person – Friday 11 July at the Business School, Manchester Metropolitan University.

Registration

Book yourself a place today! Ticket prices can be found on the ALN Conference 2025 website. Bulk discounts are available for 5 or more people attending in-person. See the Eventbrite page for how it works. Details of the full programme are now available on the website.

If you have any queries about the conference, please contact alnconferenceteam@gmail.com.

Member Library Events

University of Manchester Open Research Conference 2025
Date: Monday 9 and Tuesday 10 June 2025
Location: Alliance Manchester Business School

The event will showcase the latest innovations and practices in Open Research, bringing together researchers, PGRs and research support professionals across disciplines, to explore bold ideas and practical solutions for reshaping how we conduct and share research.

Call for Abstracts  
We welcome submissions for presentations and posters from anyone interested in, researching, or working in Open Research. Contributions can include research projects, methodological innovations, or case studies showcasing Open Research practices.

Key Details  
•    Abstract Submission Deadline: 31 March 2025
•    Notification of Acceptance: Mid-end of April 2025
•    Submit your application via this form: https://forms.office.com/e/TEwBCrRrvm

Presentation Format  
•    Talks: 15-minute presentations on your work and contributions to Open Research.
•    Posters: Posters will be displayed throughout the event, with a dedicated session to discuss your work with attendees.

Event Information  
The conference is a collaborative initiative led by the Office for Open Research (supported by the Research Lifecycle Programme), the School of Engineering Open Research Lead, the UK Reproducibility Network, and the Cancer Research UK Manchester Institute.

Contact 
If you have any questions about the conference or abstract submissions, please contact the team at openresearch@manchester.ac.uk.

Job Opportunities

Academic Liaison Librarian (Health)
Location: University of Greater Manchester (Bolton)
Salary: £27,890 to £32,983 per annum
Contract Type: Full Time; Permanent
Closing Date: Sunday 01 June 2025
Interview Date: Monday 16 June 2025

Here at the University of Bolton, we are proud of our growing reputation as a student focused University. With our strategy of “Teaching Intensive, Research Informed” we are committed to offering our students the best experience possible. Due to our ongoing growth, we have an exciting opportunity to recruit an Academic Liaison Librarian to join a small Academic Liaison Team.

The successful candidate will be expected to take an operational lead on:

• Academic and professional support, inc. liaison and user education
• Subject support enquiry services, alongside generic provision including:
• subject guides
• resource lists
• referencing
• copyright
• research
• Curation of resources for health related programmes
• Induction, class-sessions, tailored delivery, drop-ins
• Communicating with all users: promotion of resources and services

The Library prides itself in delivering excellent customer service and in being a very supportive team. Although the role is campus based, there may be an opportunity to undertake some hybrid working (one day per week).

We ask a lot from our staff but in return, you will receive a competitive benefits package including access to the Local Government Pension Scheme, an employee benefits scheme and generous annual leave entitlement. As a small University, you will have opportunities to work with colleagues across campus to support and deliver the best student experience possible.

Applications are welcomed from those candidates interested in part-time hours/job-share.