As the library approaches the final year of ‘The Library towards 2025’, we want to use the remaining year to highlight all the brilliant projects and work that has contributed towards achieving the aspirations for the future of the library. We would like to outline and share all the work we have achieved over the course of this five-year plan.

To celebrate the work that we have accomplished, we are creating and publishing monthly summaries from January to December, each focusing on a different theme included in the library vision. Each theme will feature a variety of examples from the beginning of the 2025 Vision, bringing work from the library, the university and across local communities together.

January’s theme ‘Open Collections’ is now live on the library webpage, which is focusing on both digital and physical collections in the library. You can read about projects such as The Davy’s Notebook project. We have included a podcast with Tim Leonard, the Associate Director: Space, experience and innovation of Lancaster University Library about the libraries work for this project. As well as articles about our open research projects including Trailblazers and Open Book Futures project.

“Open collections are essential democratising access to knowledge.  In this age of misinformation, it is essential that research is available to all, free from any barriers to access or usage such as paywalls or restrictive copyright clauses.  We at Lancaster University Library are deeply committed to open collections and sharing knowledge as widely and freely as possible, including through sector leading initiatives such as Lancaster Digital Collections and Trailblazers open monographs.” - Elaine Sykes, Head of Open Research:

You can read more about the Open Collections work and future webpages here: Stories from our Vision - Lancaster University