Staff Development Weekly Update

ALN Staff Development Update #93 – 11 March 2026

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

ALN Events

March 2026

** New ** ALN EDI Ideas Bazaar
Hosted by: EDI Action Group
Date: Tuesday 17 March 2026
Time: 11.00 – 12.00pm
Platform: Online via Teams

Exploring personal and team resilience 
Hosted by: Lancaster & LJMU 
Date: Thursday 19 March 2026
Time: 10.00 – 12.30pm
Platform: Online via Teams
We have set up a waiting list for this now as it has proved popular! 

May 2026

** Date for your Diary ** Marking Mental Health Awareness Week
Hosted by: ALN MH&W Team
Date: Tuesday 12 May 2026
Time: Starting at 1pm
Platform: Online via Teams
More information to follow soon.

Systematic Review Event (sponsored by Covidence)
Hosted by: Newcastle University
Date: Thursday 14 May 2026
Time: 9.30am – 4.30pm
Location: Newcastle University

June 2026

** Date for your Diary ** SHU Teachmeet – Reaching every learner: Engagement strategies for teaching library and academic skills
Hosted by: Sheffield Hallam University
Date: Thursday 4 June 2026
Time: TBC
Location: Sheffield Hallam University
More information to follow soon.

Call for Contributions

** New ** ALN Data Showcase
Hosted by: ALN Service Engagement & Impact Group
Date: Wednesday 17 June 2026
Time: 10.00 – 3.00pm
Platform: Online via Teams

This Data Showcase, hosted by the Chairs of the ALN Service Engagement & Impact Group, will be an opportunity to showcase what people are doing with data collection, data handling, data analysis and dashboards, sharing best practice, outlining how they handle a data problem, how they engage with data and the impact of it.

Call for Contributions

We are seeking some short sessions (e.g. lightning talks, short papers etc) of between 15-30 minutes. These can be on aspect of data use in your institution that you’d like to share with your ALN colleagues.

These are the details of our confirmed sessions so far:

• Collaborative and Connected Data Strategies at the University of Sunderland Library – Michelle Haplin, University of Sunderland
  This presentation explores the data led approach we are developing, bringing together diverse data sources, collaborative stakeholder relationships, and a focus on value for money analytics that support service efficiencies and shape the student experience.

• Implementation to Insight: Embedding Data at the Heart of System Change – Kelly Jameson, Edge Hill University
  This session explores the implementation of a new student support system, where data structures, shared definitions and dashboards were established as foundational principles. By aligning multiple support services around consistent data design, the project sought to enable clearer institutional insight and a more holistic understanding of student journeys.

• Bethany O’Donoghue, University of Manchester
  A presentation on using data from LibKey Nomad and Lean Library access broker extensions to pick the best extension of library users, and also analyse journal usage over time.

If you feel you have something to contribute to the event, please get in touch via academiclibrariesnorth@sconul.ac.uk by Friday 27 March 2026.

** New ** Setting up EDI Working Groups
Hosted by: ALN EDI Action Group
Date: Thursday 25 June 2026
Time: TBC
Platform: Online via Teams

We are hoping that this event will provide you with the opportunity to hear the experiences of colleagues in other ALN institutions who have set up EDI Working Groups at their home libraries. They will share the good, the bad and the ugly of creating and maintaining these groups.

We’re likely to have 3 or 4 short presentations and an opportunity for Q&A/group discussions.

Please contact us at academiclibrariesnorth@sconul.ac.uk if you could contribute your experiences to the event – we’d love to hear from you!

ALN Skill Up Series

New series – Skill Up with ALN!
Have you seen that we introduced a new series last academic year called Skill Up with ALN? These hour long sessions offer an opportunity to learn about different roles and areas of library life and aim to demystify areas of the library service. We have already run two sessions this year and have some more topic ideas for the 2024/25 academic year but if you have any ideas, please do share them with us.

ALN SD Offer Infographic

Do you think you know all that ALN offers to support your staff development? Why not check out our Staff Development Infographic to see the full list of activities. Let us know how you got on. Did you get all of them?

Frontline Forum 2025/26

Our next forum of 2025/26 is taking place on Wednesday 25 March 2026, 10.00 – 11.30am with a theme of Encouraging responsible use of Spaces. The forum will have a specific focus on proactive activities and campaigns to support busier periods around exams and assessments.

Get involved! We know different libraries have different challenges during exams. We’d love to hear from you if your library has a successful idea or initiative that you would be happy to share with frontline colleagues in the form of a short 5 minute presentation or talk.

Please get in touch at academiclibrariesnorth@sconul.ac.uk if you’d like to know more or are interested in presenting.

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About the Forums

The Frontline Forum is an 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.

The provisional date for the rest of the year are as follows and we’ll be confirming the topic in the weeks leading up to it:

• Tuesday 2 June 2026, 2.00 – 3.30

ALN Conference 2026

Our Call for Papers is now open! The deadline for submissions is Friday 13 March 2026. Find out more information on the submission process and how we can help support you through it on the conference webpage.

The theme of our conference is ‘Reimagining Openness in Academic Libraries’ and will be looking at what “open” really means in academic libraries today.

Dates for your diary:

Online Day – Wednesday 24 June 2026 – we’re delighted to announce that Professor Stephen Pinfield, Professor of Information Services Management at the University of Sheffield, will be our keynote speaker at our online day.

In-person Day – Monday 6 July 2026 (Dalton Building, Manchester Metropolitan University) – we’re also delighted to announce that Caroline Ball, Community Engagement Lead for the Open Book Collective (OBC), will be our keynote speaker at our in-person day.

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

ALN EDI Innovation Fund 2026

We will be launching our EDI Innovation Fund for 2026 soon so, in the meantime, get your thinking caps on for a potential project for which you could apply for funding.

The fund aims to provide small grants to ALN institutions (up to a max of £1000) to support a project, event or activity which will improve, enhance or develop approaches to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI).

Bids should ideally be submitted in collaboration with another ALN member or ALN group, to help support the collaborative ethos of ALN. Lone bids are also welcome if you can provide evidence of their relevance to the ALN EDI mission is provided.

Timeline 2026 

We will be opening the application process soon. These are the provisional dates for 2026:

• EDInspiration Event (sharing and celebrating 2025 projects): Thursday 5 March 2026, 2.00 – 3.30pm
• Ideas Bazaar (bring your ideas and find a collaboration partner): Tuesday 17 March 2026, 11.00 – 12.00
• Deadline for bids: Thursday 2 April 2026
• Successful bids informed by: Friday 24 April 2026
• Projects start: May 2026
• Projects duration: 9-12 months

Successful projects will be expected to share information about their projects at the end of the project period in the form of, for example, a report, a conference presentation or an online resource. We run an event at the end of the projects to celebrate the successes, share information on the type of projects that were funded and to give inspiration to those hoping for funding for their project.

Criteria for funding

The following criteria are used to assess the bids:

• Is it a collaborative project including 2 or more ALN members? Or does it outline how the work of the project will enable collaboration?
• Does it outline what the expected impact of the project will be?
• Does it demonstrate how the outputs and learning of the project will be shared and disseminated across the breadth of the ALN community, e.g. a conference presentation, an online resource etc?
• Are the costs of the project up to £1000 and does it outline how the money will be spent?

Mental Health & Wellbeing Resource

Are you planning to do something for University Mental Health Day on Thursday 12 March? Check out the resources on the ALN Mental Health & Wellbeing Advocacy Resource to find some resources to give you some inspiration for the day.

The Mental Health & Wellbeing Advocacy Resource is packed full of useful information, case studies and links to resources. A project team drawn from across ALN has worked together to create the resource to support library work around mental health and wellbeing. The resource consists of explanatory text and links to resources relating to this emerging agenda and case studies contributed by ALN libraries, so that we can learn from each other. We’d love more people to make use of the resource – and, if you have been working in this area, we would love to add your case study to our collection.

To mark Blue Monday the team from the ALN Mental Health and Wellbeing Resource ran an event to discuss how libraries can best support student and staff wellbeing.

Two presentations kicked off the discussions – click on the links below:

• Rebecca Humphreys talked about her study of wellbeing collections.
• Rachel Huskisson reported on her survey of FE college provision.

External Opportunities

AI Skills for Librarians: the journey from AI literacy to AI fluency webinar 
Date: Friday 13 March 2026, 1.30pm to 3.00pm
SCONUL’s AI working group is hosting a webinar looking at skills and competencies for library teams working on the adoption, integration, and development of AI tools. We will be exploring core competencies for the library teams and discussing how we can support our teams to move from being AI literate to AI fluent. We will be joined by Jason Coleman, Academic Services Librarian at Kansas State University and Keven Jeffrey, Librarian at Kansas State University, who co-chaired the ACRL AI Competencies for Library Workers Task Force which has produced an insightful and helpful guide into AI competencies: https://www.ala.org/acrl/standards/ai focused on library teams.

SCONUL webinar series on the HE Reference Models
HERMS Webinar 1: Everything you wanted to know about the HE Reference Models but were afraid to ask 
Date: Tuesday 24 March 2026, 14.00 – 15.30
The HE Reference models have been increasingly appearing on libraries’ radar as they are being used to support and inform change processes in HE institutions. Come along to this webinar to discover why the HE Reference Models matter; how they work; and how they are being used to meet the challenges of digital transformation and to support other change processes within your institution.
We will hear from: Russell Boyatt, Director of Strategy and Architecture at the London School of Economics and member of the UCISA Enterprise Architecture Group who will set out the ‘what, why and how’ of the HE Reference Models and highlight plans for the development of a new HERMS Service Model; Anna O’Neill, SCONUL co-chair and University Librarian at the University of Warwick about the collaborative work that SCONUL has been doing with UCISA colleagues to ensure that library representation in the HERMs fully reflects the scope of libraries contribution to the business capabilities of the institution. We will also hear from colleagues in the HERMS working group on how the HE Reference Models are being used in their own institutions.
More information to follow later on future sessions in this series. 

Sponsored Places for UKSG Annual Conference
Date: Monday 30 March – Wednesday 1 April 2026
UKSG is offering ten free places to attend the UKSG Annual Conference and Exhibition in Glasgow, United Kingdom . These awards cover the cost of attendance at the conference, including all meals, entertainment and accommodation.

Those who can apply include:

• Early career practitioners with up to five years’ experience in any sector of the scholarly information community. (We will also consider applications where an applicant’s career has changed significantly.)
• Individuals who identify as having a voice or perspective that is underrepresented within the sector. This underrepresentation may be experienced within a local context (at your organisation) or be more pervasive within the scholarly information community.
• Individuals from the scholarly information community who have not attended the UKSG conference before.

UKSG Annual Conference is a key meeting, benefits of attending include: learning about the newest developments in scholarly communications from librarians, publishers and intermediaries. discovering some of the latest products and services available to information professionals networking and sharing experiences with colleagues from the global scholarly communications sector and participating in social events, from the “Newcomers Reception” to the Conference Dinner.

Job Opportunities

Partnership Officer (Library Services)
Location: University of Lancashire
Salary: £35,608 to £41,064 per annum
Post Type: Full Time; Fixed Term – 12 Months – due to limited funding
Closing Date: Thursday 19 March 2026
Interview Date: Thursday 26 March 2026

About the role:

The University of Lancashire wishes to recruit a Partnership Officer to join our Learning and Information Services team. The role holder will lead on library e-resource provision, licencing and support for UK and International academic partnerships, acting as the primary contact for key staff at the University’s partners.

This is a new role to support the University as it welcomes new collaborations and consolidates support for existing partners.

About you:

We are looking for a highly organised and proactive individual with exceptional communication skills and a strong track record of negotiating with a wide range of suppliers. You will be confident working independently, using your initiative to manage your workload effectively and set clear priorities. Experience of working within libraries in a Higher Education environment is essential, alongside an undergraduate degree in a relevant area or appropriate equivalent experiential learning.

Associate Director Education and Research
Location: Manchester Metropolitan University
Salary: c£72,000 p.a.
Contract Type: Full Time, Permanent
Closing Date: Sunday 22 March 2026
Interview Date: Tuesday 14 April 2026

Key responsibilities include:
• Leading the strategic development of the Library’s contribution to transformative education and student success, embedding Library services and expertise in core teaching, learning and co-curricular activity at every stage of the student journey in support of the University’s Education Strategy
• Leading the strategic development of open research together with services and initiatives for its delivery in support of the University’s Research Strategy
• Shaping plans for a reimagined Library and student experience through the Library Transformation Programme
• Sharing responsibility for the strategic leadership and management of the Library and Cultural Services department, as an active member of the Library and Cultural Services Executive Team

Are you an effective strategic and people leader, able to set direction and convert strategy into compelling outcomes? Are you committed to collective leadership and inclusive practice, a creative optimist who will inspire and engage our people?

Now is a hugely exciting time to join Library and Cultural Services. We are embarking on an ambitious plan to reimagine our profile and portfolio, including the design and construction of a landmark new building, in support of the University’s Road to 2030 strategy.

To drive change and achieve this transformation, we need inspired, innovative leadership across a broad spectrum of responsibilities. If you can develop a compelling vision and lead with authenticity and purpose, motivating and engaging staff, this is your chance to join us as Associate Director Education and Research – playing a key role in embedding a shared culture of innovation and supporting the University’s priorities.

About us
We have been proudly driving progress for more than two centuries. As one of the UK’s largest and most popular universities, we’re a force for good, dedicated to delivered outstanding research and excellent education. Much more than a university, we are a place where ambitious people unite as a diverse and inclusive community to make meaningful connections. Where world-class facilities combine with exceptional minds to improve lives through innovation. We welcome those who are committed, talented, and hardworking. People who believe in our values and are as driven as we are to achieve shared goals.

Our community of over 5,100 colleagues work in close partnership every day to bring about positive change regionally, nationally, and globally.

Build a role with purpose, in an environment designed to unlock your potential. Be part of Manchester Met. Be Manchester Met proud. Let’s transform lives together.

About the role
As a key member of the Executive Team, you will share responsibility for the strategic leadership and management of Library and Cultural Services, providing high-level support to the Director and leading two significant domains, navigating opportunities and challenges with confidence and strategic insight:

Transformative education and student success where you will shape the Library’s strategic contribution to teaching, learning and co-curricular support throughout the student journey. This includes embedding Library expertise in curriculum design and delivery, leading information literacy and digital fluency teaching, and developing innovative, digitally-enhanced services aligned with emerging pedagogies.

Open research where you will lead the strategic development of services that encompass open access publishing, repository services, digital preservation, research data management and public engagement with research. You will be a visible advocate for open research, ensuring that systems and processes align with funder, regulatory and assessment requirements.

You will also play a central role in defining a reimagined Library and student experience through the Library Transformation Programme, and build strong, collaborative relationships across the University and beyond, engaging widely to influence thinking, inform strategic direction and enhance the Library and Cultural Services’ reputation, visibility and contribution.

About you
You bring energy and drive to achieve our strategic vision, develop and deliver innovative services and a passion for student success and research that makes a difference. You are strongly committed to inclusion, collaboration, and user-centred design, and lead in ways that empower others. An inclusive and visionary leader, you inspire people and develop teams, creating the conditions where innovation and success flourish.

With a record of successful senior leadership and management in a large, complex and diverse library or information environment, you combine deep expertise in pedagogy and digitally enhanced learning, excellent understanding of the opportunities and challenges of open research and excellent knowledge of sector-leading approaches to academic library services.

You bring substantial experience in developing strategy and translating it into measurable outcomes, informed by a sound understanding of the UK higher education landscape and its strategic drivers.

A skilled influencer and alliance builder, you form productive relationships, develop alliances and navigate complexity with confidence. Experienced in leading change, you deliver major programmes and projects with clarity, focus and impact. Analytical and future-focused, you use data and insight to inform planning, guide decisions and evaluate performance.

To explore the post or to ask any questions you may have, please contact Rachel Beckett, Director of Library and Cultural Services, at rachel.beckett@mmu.ac.uk.

Deputy Director, Collections 
Location: Durham University
Contract: Open-Ended/Permanent, Full Time
Closing Date: Wednesday 1 April 2026

Durham University is seeking to appoint a Deputy Director, Collections, who will play a key leadership role in shaping, managing, and preserving Durham University’s unique and diverse collections. This position supports the Director in the strategic oversight of modern, heritage and cultural collections across our libraries, archives and special collections, and museums. You will serve as a key liaison among library, archival, conservation and curatorial staff bringing a ULC wide approach to all University collections, ensuring that our collections are managed responsibly, made accessible to diverse audiences, and leveraged in the advance of teaching, learning, research and community engagement at the University and beyond.

As a member of the Senior Management Team within University Library and Collections you will provide senior leadership for all collections under the ownership and custodianship of ULC and associated staff including librarians, archivists, conservators and curators.

The role will include financial planning, budget development and tracking, administration, as well as organisational and staff development. Areas of responsibility include:

• Finance, budget planning and monitoring
• Risk, compliance and audit
• Human resources and staff development
• Strategic and business planning
• Policy development and procedures
• Data gathering and analysis
• Management and leadership of collections staff

ULC comprises over 160 staff working within our libraries, museums and galleries, archives and special collections. Staff are based in the Bill Bryson Library, Palace Green Library, the Oriental Museum, Museum of Archaeology, the Castle, the International Study Centre and at our external storage facility. ULC is an active partner in the teaching, learning, wider student experience, research and external engagement at the University. Our collections are an integral part of the research infrastructure at the University.

The role will be based in Palace Green Library but you will be expected to work across all ULC sites and locations as required. ULC supports flexible and hybrid working arrangements where possible. This role is expected to work on site for a minimum of 3 days per week.

For a chat about the role or any further information please contact Stuart Hunt, Director of University Library and Collections, University Librarian (stuart.w.hunt@durham.ac.uk).