SCONUL works with a range of partners and stakeholders from across the library and higher education communities and we provide links to many of these below. Where SCONUL is a formal member of an organisation, this is indicated. If you would like to add your organisation to this list, please contact SitMui Ng.
Other library organisations:
Academic Libraries North (ALN)
Academic Libraries North was formed in January 2021 by the coming together of two regional consortia, the Northern Collaboration and NoWAL. Academic Libraries North is a consortium of 33 higher education libraries in the north of England and a subgroup of SCONUL. Through collaborative activities and mutual support, ALN provide opportunities for their members in the exchange of knowledge and experience.
Association of Research Libraries (ARL)
ARL is a non-profit organisation of 125 research libraries at comprehensive, research-extensive institutions in the US and Canada that share similar research missions, aspirations, and achievements.
The British Association for Information and Library Education and Research (BAILER)
BAILER includes all teaching and research staff in the Information and Library Schools and Departments in the UK and Ireland. It aims to reflect and focus the evolution of the field of information and library studies through the development and encouragement of its members. BAILER acts as a national forum for matters relating to information and library education and research, maintaining contact with organisations within and outside the UK concerned with education and research in library and information management and related fields.
Canadian Association of Research Libraries (CARL)
CARL is the leadership organisation for the Canadian research library community. It coordinates the joint initiatives of its members and advances their causes to achieve excellence in Canadian research and higher education. The Association's members are the 29 major academic research libraries across Canada.
Council of Australian University Librarians (CAUL)
CAUL seeks to ensure a common voice and representation for all university libraries, provide a forum for discussion, and promote common interests.
Chartered Institute for Library and Information Professionals (CILIP)
CILIP is the leading professional body for librarians, information specialists and knowledge managers. It provides practical support for members throughout their careers and speak out on behalf of the profession.
Consortium of National and University Libraries (CONUL)
CONUL is a consortium of Ireland's main research libraries. Its mission is to develop and improve the library and information services of the CONUL members through the exchange of experience and the organisation of cooperative activities.
Council of New Zealand University Librarians (CONZUL)
CONZUL's mission is to act collectively to improve access for students and staff of New Zealand universities to the information resources required to advance teaching, learning and research.
European Bureau of Library, Information and Documentation Associations (EBLIDA)
EBLIDA is an independent umbrella association of library, information, documentation and archive associations and institutions in Europe.
International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA)
The International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA) is the leading international body representing the interests of library and information services and their users. It is the global voice of the library and information profession.
Member of: Ligue des Bibliothèques Européennes de Recherche (LIBER): Association of European Research Libraries
LIBER is the main network for research libraries in Europe. LIBER comprises more than 400 national, university and other libraries from more than 40 countries.
M25 Consortium of Academic Libraries
The M25 Consortium of Academic Libraries is a collaborative organisation that works to improve library and information services within the M25 region and more widely across the East and Southeast. The Consortium now has 57 member institutions. Its aim is to provide services and resources for the benefit of learners and researchers.
Mercian Collaboration
The Mercian Collaboration is a professional network principally formed from SCONUL member higher education libraries based in the East and West Midlands of England. The Collaboration provides a space to work together to explore training and development, and to seek efficiencies on behalf of its institutions and the wider community.
Research Libraries UK (RLUK)
RLUK's mission is to work with our members and with our partners, nationally and internationally, to shape and to realise the vision of the modern research library. RLUK's vision is that the UK should have the best research library support in the world
Society of Chief Librarians (SCL)
The Society of Chief Librarians (SCL) is a local government association made up of the chief librarian of each library authority in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Scottish Confederation of University and Research Libraries (SCURL)
The Scottish Confederation of University and Research Libraries (SCURL) is the principal association of research libraries in Scotland and have been working collaboratively and cross-sectorally for over 30 years.
South West Higher Education Libraries (SWHELS)
Libraries group which reports to Universities in the South-West.
Wales Higher Education Libraries Forum (WHELF)
The Wales Higher Education Libraries Forum (WHELF) is a grouping of Chief Librarians and Directors of Information Services drawn from all the higher education institutions in Wales.
National libraries in the UK and Ireland
British Library
The British Library is the national library of the United Kingdom. The library is a major research library, holding over 150 million items from many countries, in many languages and in many formats, both print and digital. The British Library makes an essential contribution to the UK’s intellectual, social, economic and cultural life, supporting key sectors of education and research.
National Library of Ireland
The mission of the Library is to collect, preserve, promote and make accessible the documentary and intellectual record of the life of Ireland and to contribute to the provision of access to the larger universe of recorded knowledge.
National Library of Scotland
The National Library of Scotland is a reference library with world-class collections. NLS is also Scotland's largest library and one of the major research libraries in Europe.
National Library of Wales
The National Library of Wales, established in 1907, is the largest library in Wales, and one of the great research libraries of the world. It houses unique collections of books, leaflets, newspapers, music, manuscripts, archives, maps, photographs, paintings, sound and moving images. The Library is also developing collections of electronic publications in online and offline format.
Other Professional Associations
Advance HE
Advance HE is a member-led, sector-owned charity that works with institutions and higher education across the world to improve higher education for staff, students and society.
Association of Heads of University Administration (AHUA)
AHUA is the representative body for senior University managers (typically Registrars, Chief Operating Officers, Heads of Administration) in the United Kingdom and Ireland.
Association of Learning Technology (ALT)
ALT is the UK's leading membership organisation in the learning technology field. Their purpose is to ensure that use of learning technology is effective and efficient, informed by research and practice, and grounded in an understanding of the underlying technologies, their capabilities and the situations into which they are placed.
Association of Learned and Professional Society Publishers (ALPSP)
ALPSP is the international association for non-profit publishers and those who work with them.
AMOSSHE, the UK Student Services Organisation
AMOSSHE is the UK Student Services Organisation. They inform and support the leaders of student services, and represent, advocate for, and promote the student experience. 148 UK and International higher education institutions are members of AMOSSHE.
Archives and Records Association
The lead professional body for archivists, archive conservators and records managers in the United Kingdom and Ireland.
Association of University Administrators (AUA)
The AUA exists to advance and promote the professional recognition and development of all who work in professional services roles in higher education, and to be an authoritative advocate and champion for the sector.
British Universities Finance Directors Group (BUFDG)
The British Universities Finance Directors Group (BUFDG) is the representative body for finance office staff in the higher education sector in the United Kingdom.
Member of: Counting Online Usage of Networked Electronic Resources (Counter)
Launched in March 2002, COUNTER is an international initiative serving librarians, publishers and intermediaries by setting standards that facilitate the recording and reporting of online usage statistics in a consistent, credible and compatible way.
LIS Research Coalition
The LIS Research Coalition was established in 2009 as a three-year project by its founding members. Their broad mission is to facilitate a co-ordinated and strategic approach to LIS research across the UK.
The Standing Conference for Heads of Media Services (SCHOMS)
The Standing Conference for Heads of Media Services (SCHOMS) is the professional body for heads of services working within UK Higher Education. SCHOMS members lead and manage a diverse set of educational, media and institutional support services. They give strategic direction to support and promote excellence in teaching and learning practice.
Scholarly Publishing and Academic Resources Coalition (SPARC)
SPARC is an international alliance of academic and research libraries working to correct imbalances in the scholarly publishing system.
SPARC Europe
SPARC Europe is an alliance of European academic and research libraries, national libraries, library organisations and research institutions. It provides the support and tools it needs in order to bring about positive change to the system of scholarly communications
Universities and Colleges Information Systems Association (UCISA)
UCISA represents the whole of higher education, and increasingly further education, in the provision and development of academic, management and administrative information systems, providing a network of contacts and a powerful lobbying voice.
UKSG
UKSG exists to connect the knowledge community and encourage the exchange of ideas on scholarly communication. It is the only organisation spanning the wide range of interests and activities across the scholarly information community of librarians, publishers, intermediaries and technology vendors.
UK university organisations
Million Plus
A university think tank to help solve complex problems in higher education. They use rigorous research and evidence-based policy to address and provide solutions to complex problems in higher education. Million+ publish research reports and policy papers and we submit evidence to parliamentarians, government and other agencies.
Russell Group
The Russell Group represents 24 leading UK universities which are committed to maintaining the very best research, an outstanding teaching and learning experience and unrivalled links with business and the public sector.
Universities UK
Universities UK is the representative organisation for the UK’s universities. Founded in 1918, their mission is to be the definitive voice for all universities in the UK, providing high quality leadership and support to our members to promote a successful and diverse higher education sector
Major library stakeholders
Art Council
Arts Council England is the national development agency for the arts in England, distributing public money from the Government and the National Lottery. Arts Council England champions, develops and invests in artistic and cultural experiences that enrich people's lives. We support a range of activities across the arts, museums and libraries - from theatre to digital art, reading to dance, music to literature, and crafts to collections.
Copyright Licensing Agency (CLA)
The Copyright Licensing Agency Limited (CLA) are a licensing body as defined by the Copyright Designs and Patents Act 1988. They license organisations to copy and re-use extracts from print and digital publications on behalf of the copyright owners - authors, publishers and visual artists.
Higher Education Funding Council for Wales (HEFCW)
HEFCW is funded by the Welsh Government to distribute funding for higher education in Wales. HEFCW wishes to develop and sustain internationally excellent higher education in Wales, for the benefit of individuals, society and the economy, in Wales and more widely.
Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA)
The Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) is the official agency for the collection, analysis and dissemination of quantitative information about higher education.
JANET
Janet is a private UK government-funded computer network dedicated to research and education. All further and higher education organisations in the UK are connected to Janet, as are all the Research Councils. The name was originally a contraction of Joint Academic NETwork but it is now known as Janet in its own right.
Jisc
JISC is the UK's expert on information and digital technologies for education and research. They offer leadership and support to UK educational organisations at a local, national and international level. They provide resources, knowledge and expertise that colleges and universities would struggle to source individually.
JISC Collections
JISC Collections is a membership organisation, established by the UK Higher and Further Education funding councils, to support the procurement of digital content for education and research in the UK.
National Union of Students (NUS)
NUS is a voluntary membership organisation which makes a real difference to the lives of students and its member students' unions. They are a confederation of 600 students' unions, amounting to more than 95 per cent of all higher and further education unions in the UK. Through their member students' unions, they represent the interests of more than seven million students.
Scottish Funding Council (SFC)
The Scottish Further and Higher Education Funding Council (SFC) is the national, strategic body that is responsible for funding teaching and learning provision, research and other activities in Scotland's 37 colleges and 19 universities and higher education institutions. They are more commonly known as 'the Scottish Funding Council' or 'SFC'.
Other interesting library projects and programmes
Academic & Research Libraries Group (ARLG)
ARL Group is a new group created from combining the UC&R (University, College and Research Group) and CoFHE (Colleges of Further and Higher Education). It aims to provide a focus and a forum for the professional concerns and interests of everyone working in academic or research libraries, linking those with current and emerging issues and developments and the overall direction of CILIP’s corporate plan.
Copyright for Knowledge
Copyright for Knowledge is a cross-sectoral body which aims to work with government at both a UK and European level to achieve a balanced copyright regime in Europe.
DISCOVERY
The JISC -funded Discovery programme was launched in May 2011 to create 'a metadata ecology' to support better access to vital collections data in libraries, archives and museums and facilitate new services for UK education and research.
E-Books as a Shared Service in M25 (EBASS 25)
E-BASS25 is a project led by Royal Holloway, University of London (on behalf of the M25 Consortium), with partners at Kingston University, JISC Collections and the Science Museum (on behalf of MLAG). In addition, they work closely with SCONUL, LUPC, SUPC, Sero Consulting and the University of Surrey. The project seeks to define practical guidelines and tools which will enable libraries to work together with providers and purchasing consortia to deliver the best possible return on investment and the highest level of efficiency in this priority area of library provision.
Electronic Theses Online Services (ETHOS)
The aim of EThOS is to offer a 'single point of access' where researchers the world over can access ALL theses produced by UK Higher Education; to support Higher Education Institutions through the transition from print to e-theses; to help UK Higher Education Institutions expand available content by digitising paper theses; and to demonstrate the quality of UK research and help attract students and research investment into UK HE.
The Libraries and Archives Copyright Alliance (LACA)
The Libraries and Archives Copyright Alliance is convened and supported by CILIP: the Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals. It brings together the UK's major professional organisations and experts representing librarians and archivists to advocate a fair and balanced copyright regime and to lobby about the copyright issues affecting the ability of library, archive and information services to deliver access to knowledge in the digital age.
Share the Vision (STV)
Share the Vision is a partnership of UK libraries and library organisations that work together to improve the accessibility of library services for print disabled people.
UKRR
The UK Research Reserve (UKRR) is a collaborative distributed national research collection managed by a partnership between the Higher Education sector and the British Library. It allows Higher Education libraries to de-duplicate their journal holdings of a title if two copies are held by other UKRR members, ensuring continued access to low-use journals, whilst allowing libraries to release space to meet the changing needs of their users.
Walk-In Access to Electronic Resources (WATER)
In order to sustain access schemes in an increasingly electronic environment, the WATER project, supported by SCONUL and UCISA, should encourage every participating library in SCONUL Access to provide at least one walk-in access terminal by December 2012.