Library Champions are students acting as an important link between students and Libraries & Collections. Through engaging with the work of the libraries they help bring the views of students across the university into decision making, and ensure that their needs are understood in the development of library services, resources and spaces.
Depending on the opportunities they choose, Library Champions can gain valuable experience to add to their CV, use the scheme to apply for the King’s Experience Award, or receive vouchers or pay in return for their time and insight.
Opportunities will include:
- Collaborating with library staff on projects to improve our services, collections or spaces.
- Taking part in user experience research or focus groups.
We are very keen to include a wide range of voices in the Library Champions programme, and particularly welcome students from backgrounds underrepresented in academia. You do not need to be a regular library user to get involved.
Sign-up to become a Library Champion for 2023-24
If you have any questions, please contact: ML-LC-ServiceDevelopment@kcl.ac.uk
Looking back: Library Champions 2022-23
From November 2022 to May 2023, Library Champions contributed a range of activities, details of which can be found on the Library Loop blog. Our two main projects were:
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What makes a good reading list?
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Students worked with library staff to create case studies demonstrating how they use reading lists, their impact on students’ wellbeing, and what makes a good reading list.
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Inclusive Information Literacy
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Students worked with library staff to develop an action plan to improve inclusivity in our information literacy teaching.
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Looking back: Library Champions 2021-22
From November 2021 to April 2022, Library Champions took part in the following projects:
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Improving how we help users in our libraries
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Students took part in focus groups and user experience (UX) research, then became UX researchers themselves, interviewing peers at three library sites.
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Become an Open Access Champion
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Students received special training on Open Access resources and its benefits to their studies, surveyed their peers and feeding back to inform future Open Access teaching at King’s libraries.
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Supporting Inclusive Education through Reading Lists
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Students collaborated with library staff on refining Library & Collections’ (L&C) methodology from previous Library Champions project, resulting in online how-to guidance from L&C available for all King’s students and staff.
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Online Exhibition - Vanguards & Trailblazers
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Students created an online exhibition of people from in and outside King's that inspire them, raising student awareness for discovery beyond the reading list and over-represented academic demographics.
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