Projects
Digital transformation library lens pilot programme
Seven university libraries use our digital transformation library lens to reimagine their role and contribute to meaningful, institution-wide change.
Ongoing
Started:
Expected outcome: Advice
Libraries play a pivotal role in digital transformation within their institutions, yet their contribution is not always visible or recognised. This programme brings together seven university libraries piloting the digital transformation library lens to lead strategic digital transformation initiatives, strengthen digital capability and showcase their vital role and impact across their organisation.
We have been at the forefront of supporting digital transformation through our digital transformation in higher education framework and toolkit. We recently developed library-specific pathways into the framework, the digital transformation library lens. The lens provides a tool for libraries to amplify, enhance and evidence their role and impact in digital transformation. It aims to ensure that the expertise and experience of library professionals is recognised by others in their organisation.
The digital transformation library lens was developed in collaboration with a working group of over 45 UK university libraries and the support of CILIP, SCONUL and RLUK.
The programme
We are working with seven university libraries who will use the digital transformation library lens to drive digital transformation activities in their institutions: Aston University, Buckinghamshire New University, Edge Hill University, London Metropolitan University, Teesside University, the University of Glasgow and the University of Westminster.
We are supporting the pilot libraries through regular meetings, progress calls, webinars and by providing opportunities for the libraries to share their experience, challenges and achievements as part of a peer network. We’re also sharing the institutions’ progress more widely through public-facing events, webinars and podcasts.
At the end of the programme we will produce a series of case studies on how the pilot libraries have used the digital transformation library lens resources, what they’ve learnt, the benefits and challenges.
Motivations
The pilot libraries are all embarking on structured interventions involving a range of stakeholders and in alignment with institutional strategies such as digital, learning and teaching, student experience, research and innovation, employability and widening participation. However, the challenges they’re setting out to tackle are wide-ranging:
- enhancing services: from students’ services to research infrastructure, repositories, and digital scholarship, identifying gaps and building on successful practices
- supporting student’s digital skills and outcomes more consistently, including in relation to the employment agenda, and through student co-creation initiatives
- fostering digital innovation in taking the lead, or contributing to, projects using immersive technologies, AI, and digitally enabled learning spaces
- enhancing staff’s digital capabilities, skills and confidence, and driving the digital skills agenda
- widening participation and access to collections through digital innovation and strategic partnerships
- contributing to the development or refreshment of institutional strategies, ensuring that library’s role is recognised
Use of the digital transformation library lens
The digital transformation library lens is a tool that supports the work of academic libraries and increases their agency by providing:
- a frame to describe library’s activities and how they contribute to institutional priorities
- a common language and source of real life examples
- a map of touch points with other departments and stakeholders
- a benchmark for current services and future offering
- a structured approach to support strategic conversations
- a basis for developing action plans, keeping focused on priority activities
- a critical friend
- a framework for change
Summary of pilot projects
Aston University
Project lead: Deborah Munro, deputy director library and learning services; Clare Langman, information specialist
Project sponsor: Osama Khan, deputy vice-chancellor, academic
The pilot aims to increase the visibility and influence of the library and learning services as part of Aston University’s digital transformation strategic initiatives, focusing on organisational culture and student digital skills. It will benchmark digital capabilities, develop a service improvement plan, and collaborate on a centralised student skills provision. Engagement spans senior leaders, professional staff, colleagues across teams, and external partners. Using the digital transformation library lens, the project will audit readiness, guide improvements, support workforce development, and measure progress through tangible service enhancements and a case study.
Project lead: Deborah Munro, deputy director library and learning services; Clare Langman, information specialist
Project sponsor: Osama Khan, deputy vice-chancellor, academic
The pilot aims to increase the visibility and influence of the library and learning services as part of Aston University’s digital transformation strategic initiatives, focusing on organisational culture and student digital skills. It will benchmark digital capabilities, develop a service improvement plan, and collaborate on a centralised student skills provision. Engagement spans senior leaders, professional staff, colleagues across teams, and external partners. Using the digital transformation library lens, the project will audit readiness, guide improvements, support workforce development, and measure progress through tangible service enhancements and a case study.
Buckinghamshire New University
Project lead: Rachel Scott Halls, director of library and archives
Project sponsor: Nicholas Roussel-Milner, chief information officer
The library and archives directorate’s move into the CIO group has increased its strategic visibility, and the digital transformation library lens pilot offers a chance to strengthen this position further. The pilot will help the library shape university strategies around research, student experience, digital skills and talent, while building stronger cross‑college connections. Key aims include repositioning the library as a strategic partner, enhancing its institutional identity, embedding digital and information literacies in the curriculum, and contributing to the university’s emerging digital campus vision through improved planning, engagement and staff development.
Project lead: Rachel Scott Halls, director of library and archives
Project sponsor: Nicholas Roussel-Milner, chief information officer
The library and archives directorate’s move into the CIO group has increased its strategic visibility, and the digital transformation library lens pilot offers a chance to strengthen this position further. The pilot will help the library shape university strategies around research, student experience, digital skills and talent, while building stronger cross‑college connections. Key aims include repositioning the library as a strategic partner, enhancing its institutional identity, embedding digital and information literacies in the curriculum, and contributing to the university’s emerging digital campus vision through improved planning, engagement and staff development.
Edge Hill University
Project lead: Anna Franca, head of collections and archives; Dan Copley, archivist
Project sponsor: Maria Mirza, director of library and learning services
This pilot is led by the archives team and focuses on expanding the impact of Edge Hill’s archive collections on education and research through new collaborations, working with students, digital innovation and public engagement. The pilot will support the emerging institutional strategy with a focus on the creative industries and harnessing the power of digital and AI. Using the digital transformation library lens, the team aims to position the library as a critical partner and leader in digital transformation and foster digital innovation, experimentation and creativity.
Project lead: Anna Franca, head of collections and archives; Dan Copley, archivist
Project sponsor: Maria Mirza, director of library and learning services
This pilot is led by the archives team and focuses on expanding the impact of Edge Hill’s archive collections on education and research through new collaborations, working with students, digital innovation and public engagement. The pilot will support the emerging institutional strategy with a focus on the creative industries and harnessing the power of digital and AI. Using the digital transformation library lens, the team aims to position the library as a critical partner and leader in digital transformation and foster digital innovation, experimentation and creativity.
London Metropolitan University
Project lead: Naomi Elliott, director of library services and special collections; Ellie Murphy, library digital technologist
Project sponsor: Will Hopson-Hill, director of digital transformation
The project builds on existing work in library services and aligns with institutional digital transformation priorities. The main focus is on developing a strong digital culture and mindset by enhancing staff digital skills, supporting students’ digital capabilities particularly in AI, and creating digital innovation spaces for broader engagement. Through the pilot, the library aims to strengthen its strategic role in institutional digital transformation, deepen cross‑departmental collaboration, and establish a scalable model for embedding digital culture and practice across professional services.
Project lead: Naomi Elliott, director of library services and special collections; Ellie Murphy, library digital technologist
Project sponsor: Will Hopson-Hill, director of digital transformation
The project builds on existing work in library services and aligns with institutional digital transformation priorities. The main focus is on developing a strong digital culture and mindset by enhancing staff digital skills, supporting students’ digital capabilities particularly in AI, and creating digital innovation spaces for broader engagement. Through the pilot, the library aims to strengthen its strategic role in institutional digital transformation, deepen cross‑departmental collaboration, and establish a scalable model for embedding digital culture and practice across professional services.
University of Glasgow
Project lead: George Mcgregor, assistant director - digital library; Paul Cannon, college librarian: medicine, veterinary and life sciences
Project sponsor: Martina McChrystal, director, library services
The library is using this pilot as an opportunity to inform the refresh of the Information Services directorate’s strategic roadmap and contribute to institutional strategies for teaching, learning and research. Key priorities are upskilling staff digital capabilities; improving and expanding library data collection to support better decision making; and providing guidance to academics on non-traditional research outputs. Working with strategic leads across the library, learning and teaching, and research areas, the team is using the digital transformation library lens to guide benchmarking and improvements in service delivery.
Project lead: George Mcgregor, assistant director - digital library; Paul Cannon, college librarian: medicine, veterinary and life sciences
Project sponsor: Martina McChrystal, director, library services
The library is using this pilot as an opportunity to inform the refresh of the Information Services directorate’s strategic roadmap and contribute to institutional strategies for teaching, learning and research. Key priorities are upskilling staff digital capabilities; improving and expanding library data collection to support better decision making; and providing guidance to academics on non-traditional research outputs. Working with strategic leads across the library, learning and teaching, and research areas, the team is using the digital transformation library lens to guide benchmarking and improvements in service delivery.
Teesside University
Project lead: Kay Grieves, deputy director: learning, teaching and research (student and library services); Lisa Eveson, head of skills, content creation and delivery
Project sponsor: Rosie Jones, director student and library services
The pilot offers the library an opportunity to lead university‑wide digital cultural change, and establish itself as the campus destination for digital expertise, practice and exploration. It focuses on defining key digital competencies, creating a university hub for digital skills delivery, expanding digitally‑enabled learning spaces, and contributing to the university’s AI strategy. The pilot is broadening engagement with key stakeholders (including IT, students, academic teams and AI operations) and fostering a culture of experimentation, growing staff confidence and students’ skills. The digital transformation library lens helps enhance the library’s visibility and legitimacy in digital transformation initiatives.
Project lead: Kay Grieves, deputy director: learning, teaching and research (student and library services); Lisa Eveson, head of skills, content creation and delivery
Project sponsor: Rosie Jones, director student and library services
The pilot offers the library an opportunity to lead university‑wide digital cultural change, and establish itself as the campus destination for digital expertise, practice and exploration. It focuses on defining key digital competencies, creating a university hub for digital skills delivery, expanding digitally‑enabled learning spaces, and contributing to the university’s AI strategy. The pilot is broadening engagement with key stakeholders (including IT, students, academic teams and AI operations) and fostering a culture of experimentation, growing staff confidence and students’ skills. The digital transformation library lens helps enhance the library’s visibility and legitimacy in digital transformation initiatives.
University of Westminster
Project lead: Lisa McLaren, head of library and archives service
Project sponsor: Neil Donohue, director of student and academic services
The project aims to strengthen staff and students’ digital skills, enhance digital well‑being, future‑proof services, and raise the profile of the library and archives service. The team is working in collaboration with students, staff, senior leadership and professional services to build a stronger digital culture and engagement. Aligned with the education strategy and informing the digital strategy, the project seeks to boost confidence with emerging technologies and improve service delivery, using the digital transformation library lens to guide change and support planning and collaboration.
Project lead: Lisa McLaren, head of library and archives service
Project sponsor: Neil Donohue, director of student and academic services
The project aims to strengthen staff and students’ digital skills, enhance digital well‑being, future‑proof services, and raise the profile of the library and archives service. The team is working in collaboration with students, staff, senior leadership and professional services to build a stronger digital culture and engagement. Aligned with the education strategy and informing the digital strategy, the project seeks to boost confidence with emerging technologies and improve service delivery, using the digital transformation library lens to guide change and support planning and collaboration.
How to get involved
If you would like to keep in touch with the work of the digital transformation library lens programme and related areas, you can join our growing digital transformation library lens working group.
Our project partners
Meet the project team
Sarah Knight
Director of digital transformation (HE)
Paola Marchionni
Head of engagement, digital transformation
Lou McGill
Senior sector specialist, digital transformation
Project outputs
- Digital transformation library lens briefing paperRead our briefing paper (pdf)
- Digital transformation library lens quick guideRead our quick guide (pdf)
- Digital transformation library lens reportRead our report (pdf)
- Digital transformation library lensRead our tool for libraries
- Taking digital transformation forward in your organisationView our digital transformation toolkit