Claire Knowles
Acting Director of Library Services
University of Leeds
Rebecca Hirsch
Associate Director, Digital Library
University of Edinburgh
This briefing will explore two strategic approaches to transforming library digital infrastructure. The speakers will show how differing institutional contexts led to distinct solutions to the same core challenge: how to implement transformational, foundational changes to digital collections infrastructure that create sustainable long‑term resilient and fit-for-purpose systems. They will also outline their approaches to securing institutional backing, developing effective ways of working, adopting standards, user engagement, and embedding change drawing on their experiences of leading transformational digital programmes. At the University of Leeds, a multi-year Digital Library Infrastructure Project will deliver new cultural collections infrastructure to support teaching, research, collaboration and engagement, phase one has moved into production and phase two is underway. The University of Edinburgh is in the midst of a program to deliver new digital collections infrastructure that began in 2024. Their new platform has been released in Beta and is expected to replace current infrastructure in Autumn 2026.
https://leedsunilibrary.wordpress.com/category/digital-library-infrastructure-project/
