We are delighted to publish the Libraries, Museums and Galleries annual report for the 2024-25 academic year.
The past year has seen significant developments in our work. We have begun to deliver our departmental strategic plan, Reimagining Libraries, Museums and Galleries, to enable, embody, and amplify the University’s strategy, Liverpool 2031.
We have made visible and significant improvements to our spaces and services to enable research, learning, and community engagement. Works have included the renovation and redesign of the Garstang Museum stores through our AHRC RICHeS programme and the reopening of the iconic Tate Hall in the Victoria Gallery & Museum. We have continued the development of our Maker Space in the Sydney Jones Library and the improvement of learning spaces within the Harold Cohen and Leahurst Libraries. The year has seen significant investment in the core infrastructure of our buildings: from toilets to digital screens, lighting to leisure reading.
We are transforming our collections to meet the changing needs of our users and academic community. The development of core collections and the digitisation of heritage and cultural materials has continued alongside our active participation in national negotiations with major publishers.
We have curated diverse and impactful exhibitions through our gallery and public spaces, accompanied by inspiring public programming, enhancing our role as a trusted cultural partner within the city and beyond. Finally, we have increased the impact of our global partnerships in North America, Ukraine, Southern Africa, India and China to support the university’s global ambitions.
All this work has relied on the skill, determination, and enthusiasm of our expert and friendly staff, our users, and our partners. Thank you for showing an interest in our work, and to everyone who has made these achievements possible.
Dr Matt Greenhall, Director of Libraries, Museums and Galleries
For further information about our activities, follow us on social media: @LivUniLibrary, @VictoriaGallery and @GarstangMuseumofArchaeology on Instagram.
This report is available in an alternative format that provides a visual overview of our work during 2024-2025:
Libraries, Museums and Galleries (LMG) are central to the student experience. With almost 1.6m student visits to our libraries in the academic year 2024-25, our services, collections and spaces are here to inform, support and inspire.
We have supported our students to become imaginative, creative and culturally rich graduates. That is why 93.4% of Liverpool’s respondents to the National Student Survey 2024 answered positively to: ‘How well have the library resources supported your learning?’ - an increase of 1.4% on last year, placing us fourth in the Russell Group.
Our libraries continue to play a key role in enhancing student wellbeing through our comprehensive leisure reading collection. Last year we added over 1,200 titles to our dedicated wellbeing collections, taking the total to 24,920 titles. This has expanded opportunities for users’ personal enrichment, relaxation, and the exploration of diverse interests.
During 2024, more than 4.6m journal articles and over 954,500 eBooks were used or accessed. Although usage of our collection is changing, 51,675 physical items were borrowed from our libraries during 2024-25, demonstrating the continued value of physical collections as learning resources.
Our Get It For Me service has seen a 47% increase in usage over the past five years. This reflects how students are actively engaging with our libraries and confidently relying on us to access the resources they need.
Our KnowHow programme, which offers academic skills support, has continued to make an impact.
Over 17,670 attendees participated in online and in-person KnowHow sessions over 2024-25 through the open programme and embedded delivery. Nearly 1,600 students benefited from one-to-one appointments providing targeted help with academic writing, statistics and information literacy. Many of these sessions were delivered through our near-peer delivery model.
More than 33,400 students accessed KnowHow Canvas courses, with tutorial content accessed more than 28,700 times.
We are placing greater emphasis on assessing the impact of our work. Evaluation shows a significant increase in student confidence as a result of attending a KnowHow session.
KnowHow’s Maker Space equips students with hands-on experience in emerging digital technologies, encouraging innovation and real-world problem-solving across disciplines. Through workshops, one-to-one support, and access to tools like 3D printing, students are building practical skills that strengthen academic performance and prepare them for future success in the graduate careers market.
Our Reading Lists@Liverpool webpage was redesigned to make it easier for users to find and understand essential reading guidance. Students have also had improved access to key readings in accessible formats. Process improvements have allowed streamlined communication for faster and more efficient responses to user queries.
We are expanding digital access to our collections. This year, we introduced Alma Digital and began digitisation of our oversized archaeology folios, which are now accessible online to library users.
We continued our Student Partner programme providing paid, part-time, student roles across the department. Our team of 10 student colleagues provided 1,560 hours of additional face-to-face support to library users and ensured that the student voice remained at the centre of our service.
Our Student Partners also:
The evolving Student Partner programme has also enhanced student involvement in learning activities at the Victoria Gallery & Museum. The VG&M’s partnership with the Guild of Students continues to grow, with Redbrick Fest 2.0 planned for next year and the first Guild event with the Yoga Society marking the beginning of a broader student-led hosting model.
Over the past academic year, we have enhanced our role as valuable research partners and leaders within and beyond the university.
Our Open Research team supported 60 external funding bids through our Data Management Plan (DMP) service. We delivered training for applicants to the UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) Future Leaders Fellowship, SLSJ STAR Programme, and Academy of Medical Sciences Springboard scheme.
We provided tailored Research Data Management (RDM) training and one-to-one support for staff and postgraduate researchers, embedding RDM training into individual PG programmes.
We ran bespoke sessions for research groups on open research principles, leading the University of Liverpool’s involvement in the UKRI Open Research Programme (ORP) under the UK Reproducibility Network (UKRN). We also coordinated a nationwide survey on open research practices, gathering insights from over 1,300 UK researchers and postgraduates.
Building on last year’s ORCID integration work, over 800 researchers linked their ORCID profiles with Liverpool Elements. More than 70,000 works were added to profiles, boosting the university’s research presence and efficiency.
Through outreach and collaboration, the Team actively engaged with national and international research communities.
In partnership with the University of Georgia, Athens and Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich, we co-hosted Love Data Week—sharing best practices in data services, addressing common challenges, and exploring open access strategies.
We also collaborated with libraries at Liverpool John Moores University, Edge Hill University and the University of Essex to deliver the seventh annual Open Research Week. The event attracted over 1,700 registrants from across the UK, Europe, and beyond. Topics included open qualitative research, responsible reward systems, and research monitoring.
The University proudly hosted the 2025 Research Libraries UK (RLUK) Conference at The Spine, welcoming over 200 delegates. Themes included digital scholarship, open research, and inclusive knowledge practices, with LMG colleagues presenting on recent research collaborations. The event highlighted the University’s leadership within this sector and its commitment to innovation in research support.
We welcomed the Library Performance Measurement Conference (LibPMC) to Liverpool for the first time in June 2025, with LMG recruited to the local organising group. The biennial event brings together global experts in library assessment and data insight.
This year, we retained Archive Services Accreditation and Museum Accreditation for the VG&M and Garstang Museum, reaffirming excellence in collection management and public access. Special Collections & Archives (SCA) received a certificate of recognition from The National Archives.
Additionally, both museums maintained full Arts Council England Accreditation, underscoring their dedication to sustainability, ethical standards, and public trust, ensuring continued support and long-term access to collections.
In Spring 2025, we held our first sandpit research event with the Heritage Research Institute, forging new academic partnerships and supporting our strategic goal to deepen research collaboration.
LMG has appointed a Research Associate to explore legacies of slavery and colonialism and work with communities to co-produce inclusive teaching materials.
In partnership with Liverpool University Press, we published Collecting Stories: The Cultural Collections of the University of Liverpool. This is the first publication to showcase the full breadth of our collections which brings together 52 remarkable objects spanning 15 decades.
Construction of the new Garstang Museum Research Facility, funded by our AHRC RICHeS award, is nearing completion. It will offer physical and digital infrastructure to support visiting researchers and improved collections storage.
The growing visibility of the Garstang collections within the global research community is reflected by a rise in specialist enquiries, research visits, and training sessions focused on emerging analytical techniques. This year alone, material excavated by Garstang has featured prominently in several influential publications.
Our collections are truly global, spanning communities and cultures from around the world and highlighting our place within it. We are part of an international collective collection, which brings both opportunities and responsibilities.
In 2024–25, LMG contributed to the University’s global engagement. A key milestone was the development of a new partnership with The National University of Lesotho (NUL), which began as a library-led initiative and now includes multi-disciplinary collaboration. This culminated in a signed Memorandum of Understanding between our universities following reciprocal visits and the development of an action plan for collaboration.
We strengthened our longstanding relationship with the University of Georgia, Athens, through two well-attended staff symposia, fostering knowledge exchange on Open Research, digital scholarship, and community engagement.
In March 2025, we welcomed senior representatives from Sumy State University (Ukraine), deepening our partnership through collaborative initiatives, including textbook donations to replenish Sumy's library collections.
Throughout the year, LMG hosted delegations from Brown University (USA), Vanderbilt University (USA), University of Georgia, Athens (USA), University of Delhi (India), and Sumy State University (Ukraine), supporting both existing and emerging global partnerships in alignment with the University’s strategic goals.
A further highlight was our first joint exhibition with our Chinese partner at XJTLU, showcasing Liverpool-themed items to celebrate the upcoming 20th anniversary.
Our libraries, museums and galleries offer a welcoming window into the University. We support a sense of belonging on campus for our students, neighbours and stakeholders.
From September 2024 to August 2025, we welcomed more than 58,000 visitors to the Victoria Gallery & Museum (VG&M) with exhibition highlights including Indian Perspectives and Creatures of the Nile.
Our new exhibition Lightbulb moments launched in the newly reopened Tate Hall in September 2025. Celebrating the story of great ideas and original thinking, it draws from the rich collections of the University of Liverpool and The National Archives. It features 150 objects with contributions from communities, students, and researchers, from across the city and around the world.
Family events at the VG&M continued to attract visitors to engage with our collections, academic research, and programming. Our most popular event, Wizarding School, attracted over 500 attendees in four hours. Hundreds of people enjoyed our Relaxed Concert series and another successful collaboration with Writing on the Wall (WoW) saw us host events within the city-wide WoW Fest 2025 programme.
We continue to work closely with colleagues in Widening Participation to deliver school sessions, with work developing to support marginalised communities through our museums and galleries.
This year, our VG&M learning team piloted a co-production model through the Lightbulb moments exhibition. Students from Pleasant Street Primary School contributed original board game designs, with several now featured in the exhibition. The winning design was developed into a playable game, showcasing student creativity and collaboration.
In support of the University’s ‘good neighbour’ strategy, we engaged with local communities through initiatives such as the HAF (Holiday Activities and Food) programme for disadvantaged children and a creative afternoon for families from the refugee charity Bridge2.
People are at the centre of everything we do across Libraries, Museums, and Galleries. Our services, spaces, and collections are shaped by the communities we serve - promoting learning, creativity and connection.
Following a programme of change within the libraries, we have reimagined our front-facing Customer Experience Team. Minor changes to ways of working have allowed increased consistency of user experience across our 24/7 operating hours. Colleagues now have better access to support and development opportunities as we continue to build service resilience.
In June 2024, refurbishment of the toilet facilities at the Sydney Jones began. The project introduced additional male, female, and gender-neutral toilets, alongside the installation of an accessible toilet to improve inclusivity for all users.
This year, we launched the Voices of Change EDI Learning Event, bringing together colleagues from across LMG to showcase the impactful work already underway in support of our Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) objectives. The event featured insights from EDI leaders across the university and local community, creating a valuable space for shared learning and collaboration.
The outcomes of this event are now shaping the priorities of the LMG EDI Advisory Forum and informing our objectives for the coming year. Feedback from attendees was overwhelmingly positive, and we aim to establish this as an annual event to continue driving progress in inclusive practice.
We partnered with local organisations including the Salvation Army’s Steps to Work programme, Liverpool City Council’s Intern to Work initiative, and the Liverpool Scholars flagship access programme, to offer meaningful work placements to young people facing barriers to employment.
Participants reported increased confidence and skill development, while our teams benefited from the opportunity to mentor and support emerging talent. These partnerships have strengthened our community engagement and reinforced our commitment to social mobility.
In the past year, the VG&M also signed up 12 new volunteers to work within the learning and tour guiding teams.
In addition to the university-wide cultural diversity training, LMG introduced a tailored module for our front-facing team. This focused on enhanced understanding of the needs of our international student community. The sessions supported colleagues in delivering a more culturally aware and inclusive student experience.
LMG received recognition as part of the ‘Liverpool Online’ leadership team, which was awarded the prestigious Collaborative Award for Teaching Excellence (CATE). This national accolade highlights LMG’s contribution to global education, its role in driving continuous service improvements, and its commitment to advancing diversity, equality, and inclusion across the sector.
LMG also facilitated the University’s membership of the Culture Network Liverpool City Region, a collective of over 60 cultural organisations, in June 2025. This partnership enhances opportunities for collaboration, joint programming, and advocacy, while positioning the University’s cultural offer more prominently across the region.
We provide essential services in some of the busiest campus areas. We are committed to sustainability and are working to enhance our services, collections, and use of space to meet our evolving needs.
We are embedding sustainable practices within our existing activities, whilst highlighting opportunities and challenges within emerging programmes, infrastructures and user behaviours.
As part of our ongoing commitment to sustainability and climate awareness, 17 LMG colleagues are undergoing training to become certified as Carbon Literate. By embedding carbon literacy into our professional development, we are actively supporting the University's broader goals of promoting sustainable thinking, reducing environmental impact, and cultivating a culture of informed stewardship across LMG.
Research Data Management training now also includes digital decluttering to highlight the carbon footprint of digital storage.
As part of our large-scale deselection projects, we have fully integrated a system that partners with organisations such as BetterWorld and AnyBooks. These companies specialise in repurposing materials for reuse or recycling them responsibly. This approach is a standard component of our project workflow, reinforcing our commitment to sustainability and resource efficiency.
A joint project between LMG’s Maker Space and the Institute of Population Health has developed a reusable IV training system, cutting costs and plastic waste. Using rapid prototyping, the team created a refillable alternative to single-use saline bags, reducing per-use costs from £4 to just 7p.
This ‘great idea’ is also on display as part of the new Lightbulb moments exhibition at the VG&M and highlights the Maker Space as a hub for creative problem-solving and offering sustainable design opportunities.
This is just a selection of the work that has occurred across 2024-25. Looking ahead, we will continue to deliver on our strategic plan, Reimagining Libraries, Museums and Galleries.
