SCONUL Autumn Conference, 19 November 2025

19th November 2025

The Studio, 7 Cannon Street, Birmingham, B2 5EP

SCONUL is pleased to announce details of the programme for our Autumn Conference, Library Transformation: People and place, on 19 November at The Studio, 7 Cannon Street, Birmingham, B2 5EP. Further details can be found at: https://www.sconul.ac.uk/events/sconul-autumn-conference-2025/.

Conference sessions include:

Our keynote speaker: Flora Ng, Chief Information Officer and University Librarian, The University of Hong Kong.

Flora will be discussing how she and her team have approached the new wave of rapid digitalisation that she is spearheading in the University’s Libraries and Information Technology Services (ITS).

Panel discussion on driving digital transformation

The panel will discuss the creation and communication of vision and roadmaps for the digital transformation of the library, including technology-enabled library spaces, content and systems.

Our speakers are:

Alison Chojna, Group Director of Professional Services Transformation at London South Bank University
Ciara McCaffrey, University Librarian University of Limerick
Wendy White, Director Library and Learning Services, University of Southampton.

Workshops:

Digital Transformation in practice: new resources from the Jisc Digital Transformation Library Lens programme.
Facilitator: Paola Marchionni, Head of Engagement (Digital Transformation), Jisc

This workshop is an opportunity to engage hands-on with the new resources that Jisc has co-developed with the HE library community to support digital transformation from a library’s point of view. The DT library lens builds on the Jisc Digital transformation framework and can be used to support libraries to amplify, enhance and evidence their role and impact in digital transformation. It will be piloted by seven UK university libraries over the coming year.

Evolving approaches to flexible working
Facilitators: David Clover, Deputy Director, Library and Student Support: Head of Library and Learning Enhancement, Middlesex University; and Emma Walton, Director of Library Services and University Librarian, Loughborough University.

With many institutions reviewing their policies on approaches to flexible working and how this affects the libraries’ student-facing services, this workshop offers delegates the chance to share and learn from each other’s experiences.

Effective collaboration for shared services
Facilitators: Liz White, Director of Library Partnerships, The British Library & Wendy White, Director Library and Learning Services, University of Southampton.
Speakers: Jennifer Louden, Vice Chair of the SUP Management Board (SCURL), Gareth Owen, Interim Director (Operations), Cardiff University (WHELF); Kate Petherbridge, White Rose Libraries Executive Manager and Anna Clements, Director of Library Services and University Librarian, University of Sheffield (White Rose Consortium).

This workshop will provide an opportunity to hear from colleagues at SCURL, WHELF and the White Rose Consortium about their varied forms of collaboration and what has made these such effective collaborations, including the successful key relationships that lie at their heart.

Winning entries in the SCONUL Library Design Awards 2025

Judith Keene, Director of Library & Professional Administrative Services, University of Worcester and chair of the Library Design Awards 2025 panel, will Introduce the awards and announce the winners in the two categories: space and services. We’ll also hear a short presentation from the each of the winning entries.

Libraries driving social change: Lightning talks

We will hear lightning talks from three institutions (Aberdeen, Greenwich and Sheffield) showcasing inspirational initiatives delivering social change and supporting their institutions’ commitments to the UN Sustainability Goals.

Our speakers are:

Vicky Grant, Head of Library Learning and Teaching services & Alison Little, Associate Director, Learning Strategy and Student Engagement, University of Sheffield
Susan Halfpenny, Deputy University Librarian, University of Aberdeen
Dave Puplett, Associate Director - Libraries and Academic Enhancement, University of Greenwich.

Panel discussion on leading confidently through transition

This roundtable discussion will consider approaches to developing motivated and engaged teams in the current climate; including looking at the role of storytelling; supporting staff to navigate uncertainty; and creating a common sense of mission and purpose across multiple services and through times of significant change and uncertainty.

Our speakers are:

Ann-Marie James, Director of Library Services, Aston University
Amina Shah, National Librarian and Chief Executive, National Library of Scotland
Emma Walton, Director of Library Services and University Librarian, Loughborough University.

The conference will be held at EcoSmart accredited venue The Studio, 7 Cannon Street, Birmingham, B2 5EP on the 19^th of November from 10am to 4.15pm, with registrations opening at 9.30am. Tickets are £155pp.