UAL’s library team shortlisted for Times Higher Education Award

University of the Arts London’s (UAL) library team have been shortlisted for a Times Higher Education (THE) Award for their work bringing the university’s extensive special collections online.

The THE awards, known as ‘the Oscars of higher education’, received a record number of entries this year.

The nomination for Outstanding Library Team recognises the innovative ways our library staff have helped staff and students to access and interact with UAL’s collections throughout lockdown.

The diversity of the collections’ contents, such as the Materials and Products Collections at Central Saint Martins and London College of Fashion, called for a creative approach to digitisation.

To emulate the sensory, tactile experience of this collection – comprising material samples to help students explore their properties, manufacturing processes, innovations and developments - the team created an online workshop and webinar series.

Guests from the world of materials and manufacturing featured in the series to bring practical making skills online and share stories. The speakers also offered personal insights into adapting and creating in the pandemic.

Also mentioned in the nomination was the online zine resource. It was developed by the team in charge of London College of Communication’s (LCC) zine collection around the idea that the documents are intended to be shared, seen, and handled.

The resource focuses on communicating the experiences and knowledge of the zines, and follows the culture of zine making: quick creative thinking made with limited resources.

Other innovations included worksheets and guides about the collections, a live-streamed interactive webinar and workshop series, and virtual ‘show and tells’ for objects and texts. The team also collaborated with external partners on new methods and technology and created virtual spaces for groups to interact with the collections and each other.

Rowan Williamson, Associate Director Library Services and Support, said: “Our submission was titled ‘bringing special collections online’ and highlighted examples of work from all our wonderful library and archives teams across Library Services.

“It’s wonderful to have such recognition of our achievements and all our staff who have innovated, experimented and supported the move online. The winner will be announced in November, but to be shortlisted out of nearly 600 entries is already quite the accolade.”

THE editor John Gill said: “This year’s awards will reflect a period of turmoil and innovation necessitated by the pandemic, making it quite unlike any previous year.

“We are delighted to say that we have had a record number of entries, reflecting the brilliance of universities across the whole of the UK and Ireland. With almost 600 institutions, teams and individuals nominated, it really is a fantastic achievement to make it onto this year’s shortlist.”

Winners will be announced on 25 November 2021.