Parliamentary reception for libraries

SCONUL co-hosted with CILIP a Parliamentary reception at the House of Commons on Monday 21 October.  In our conversations with MPs and peers, SCONUL colleagues talked about the myriad ways in which our member libraries support the needs of students and enable research, and highlighted the current financial challenges facing the sector and our objectives around reducing the cost of content.  We also discussed the ways in which academic and research libraries help deliver on the Government’s key missions, by

• Driving social mobility
  University libraries provide access to the knowledge that students need to fulfil their potential, whatever their background. Libraries support students through teaching them the research and information literacy skills they need to thrive. They provide a warm, safe and supportive place for students to study with 24/7 opening being the norm. SCONUL’s Access Scheme means that students also have access to these benefits when they’re away, for example when they return home during the holidays.
  
• Building the workforce of the future
  University libraries are heavily involved in providing access to the tools and training that students need to succeed in their careers.  The modern university library may well contain green screen labs, data visualisation labs, audio-visual production studios or maker spaces, as well as providing loans of cutting-edge technology.
  
  
• Fostering economic growth
  Libraries provide access to the web of global knowledge that underpins all academic research. A report by London Economics revealed that higher education makes a £116 billion annual contribution to the UK economy across all regions. We subscribe to the content that students and researchers need and cooperate internationally to share knowledge and resources through a system of inter-library loans.
  
  
• Global equity
  Librarians have been the driving force behind the open research agenda that seeks to tear down barriers to sharing academic knowledge for researchers across the world. Open research also helps to support collaboration within and across disciplines and is underpinned by open research policies, practices and procedures that support those undertaking research.
  
  
• Supporting local communities
  Universities also build pride in place and local communities. University libraries are repositories of many important local as well as national collections and put on events and exhibitions which promote the knowledge and pride of local communities.