RLUK research shift programme

RLUK is delighted to announce the launch of a new Research Shift Programme (RSP) RSP is a series of three interconnected, interactive online events designed to empower and support librarians, archivists, information professionals, and colleagues across the Galleries, Libraries, Archives, and Museums (GLAM) sector to actively engage in research.

Running from April to June 2025, the RSP will foster a collaborative community of practitioners, mentors, archivists, and researchers and explore practitioner research, tackle structural barriers, and provide practical guidance for professionals looking to deepen their engagement in research.  The series is co-created with members of our AHRC-RLUK and TNA (The National Archives) Professional Practice Research schemes as well as our Research Catalyst Cohort programme to ensure it reflects the diverse needs and interests of professionals across libraries, archives, museums, and beyond. The programme is open to both RLUK and non-RLUK member institutions.

Booking for all three sessions is now open, links below.

Building Capacity, Capability and Confidence

RLUK champions the role of academic and research libraries as active participants and leaders in the production of scholarly research and to bring wider recognition to the pivotal contribution libraries make to the research process, as enablers, partners and leaders of research excellence.  The Research Shift Programme support this vision and will help to inclusively develop a growing community of practitioners, mentors and researchers to further build their research capacity, capability and confidence across the sector.

Find out more at libraries X research

Who Should Attend

The RSP is open to librarians, archivists, information professionals, and colleagues across the wider GLAM sector. This includes professionals working in academic and research libraries, public libraries, and special collections, as well as those in archives, museums, and cultural heritage organisations.

Whether you are an early-career researcher looking to get started, a librarian or archivist interested in contributing to scholarly research, or an experienced professional seeking to expand your research engagement, this programme offers valuable insights, connections, and opportunities for professional development.  

Programme Themes and Dates

The Research Shift Programme is structured around three core thematic events, each focusing on a different aspect of research engagement for librarians, archivists, information professionals, and GLAM professionals, with opportunities to meet like-minded colleagues and to share experience and expertise.

1. Defining Practitioner Research

📅 Date: 15 April 2025 🔍 Theme: Exploring the concept and significance of practitioner research within the library, archive, and wider GLAM sectors. This session will define key methodologies, highlight case studies, and examine the evolving role of research within professional practice.

Register for Defining Practitioner Research >>

2. Overcoming Structural Barriers

📅 Date: 13 May 2025 🔍 Theme: Identifying and addressing challenges to overcome structural barriers in research engagement, including institutional policies, funding limitations, and recognition issues. This session will highlight successful institutional strategies to navigate these obstacles and advocate for greater support within libraries, archives, and the wider cultural heritage sector.

Register for Overcoming Structural Barriers >>

3. Engaging in Research

📅 Date: 10 June 2025 🔍 Theme: Providing practical strategies for initiating and sustaining research projects, building collaborations, and effectively disseminating findings. Attendees will gain insight into developing their research profile and making a meaningful impact across libraries, archives, and museums.

Register for Engaging in Research >>

RLUK's Research Shift Programme (RSP)

The Research Shift Programme (RSP) is a new RLUK series of online events designed to empower and support librarians, archivists, information professionals, and colleagues across the Galleries, Libr...

Catalyst Cohort progamme

The third AHRC-RLUK Research Catalyst Cohort programme also opens for applications on the 3rd of April. The RCC will provide a step-by-step overview of the research development process for colleagues who, although interested in developing their research profile, have little or no experience of applying for research funding. The Research Catalyst Cohort programme is open to both RLUK and non-RLUK member institutions and starts in September 2025.

Research Libraries UK (RLUK), the Association of Research Managers and Administrators (ARMA), and the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) are working in partnership to deliver a multifaceted Research Engagement Programme (REP) for academic libraries.

The programme consists of a tailored cohort training programme, open events, case studies, and resources to support colleagues working across the academic library community to develop their research confidence, skills and capabilities.

In March they announced a call for applications for the Research Catalyst Cohort programme – a tailored programme for a small cohort of academic and research library colleagues to support them to envisage, develop, and submit highly-competitive funding applications to research funders.

After a highly competitive application round, the following colleagues have been accepted on to this programme:

• Alexandra Eveleigh, Collections Information Manager (Wellcome Collection)
• Alice Cann, Academic Liaison Librarian (Brunel University London)
• Anna McNally, Senior Archivist (University of Westminster)
• Argula Rublack, Academic Librarian (History), Senate House Library (University of London)
• Bethany Logan, Research and Scholarship Librarian (University of Sussex)
• Danielle Westerhof, Rare Books Librarian (Durham University)
• Elaine Sykes, Head of Open Research (Lancaster University)
• Elizabeth Williams, Academic Support Manager (Goldsmiths University of London)
• Erika Delbecque, Head of Rare Books (University College London)
• Frances Willis, Assistant Librarian (The National Art Library)
• Karen Robson, Head of Archives and Special Collections (University of Southampton)
• Karyn Meaden-Pratt, Communications Manager and University Archivist (Cranfield University)
• Kiri Ross-Jones, Senior Archivist & Records Manager (Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew)
• Lisa Collinson, Academic Engagement and Research Lead, Museums and Special Collections (University of Aberdeen)
• Mark Lester, Research Librarian (Cardiff Metropolitan University)
• Natalie Adams, Metadata Specialist, Digital Preservation (Cambridge University Library)
• Rebecca Scott, Information Manager (University of Hertfordshire)
• Simona Cenci, Conservator (National Library of Scotland)

RLUK, ARMA, and AHRC would like to congratulate this year’s successful cohort applicants and look forward to working with them as they undertake this ground-breaking 10-month programme to develop their research skills and confidence.

The Research Catalyst Cohort programme is part of the RLUK-AHRC Research Engagement Programme (REP). For further details of the REP visit: https://www.rluk.ac.uk/rluk-ahrc-rep/