Library Champions act as an important link between students and Libraries & Collections. Through engaging with the libraries' work, they help bring the views of students across the university into decision-making and ensure their needs are understood in the development of library services, collections and spaces.
Any student can join the programme at any time during their studies, to receive invitations for different activities throughout the year. Depending on the activity, Library Champions can gain valuable experience to add to their CV, use the scheme to apply for a King’s Experience Award, or receive vouchers or pay in return for their time and insight.
Opportunities will include:
We are very keen to include a wide range of voices in the Library Champions programme, and particularly welcome students from underserved communities such as disabled or First-Generation students – but everyone is welcome.
You do not need to be a regular library user to get involved.
Sign-up to become a Library Champion
If you have any questions, please contact: ML-LC-ServiceDevelopment@kcl.ac.uk
Looking back: Library Champions 2024-25
From November 2024 to June 2025, Library Champions contributed a range of activities, including:
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Inclusive Library Study Clubs
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During a past Library Champions project, a student commented about the struggles of focusing on studies and connecting with classmates: "My disabilities made it tough for me to concentrate and left me feeling isolated. I couldn't study alone and didn't have anyone to work with."
To address this, we wanted to explore whether and how study clubs in our libraries might help. In a workshop with 9 neurodiverse students, we used UX techniques like lego-modelling and cognitive mapping to draw out students' preferences for a welcoming environment that encourages productivity while helping them make new friends and support each other.
After a successful pilot and positive feedback, neuro-inclusive Library Study Clubs based on that student feedback were implemented at the Maughan Library from August 2025.
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Library Guides Review
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We offer subject-specific guides to library resources on our web pages, to support students' information literacy and learning needs. We wanted to know: What works well about these guides, what does not, and what might be missing from a student's point of view?
4 student Library Champions from a range of disciplines and study levels took part in a 1-hour, in-person usability test with a librarian, using the "Think Aloud"-UX method, and in a collective co-creation session aimed at re-designing the Library Subject Guides and A-Z Database list.
Their feedback is being incorporated into improvement plans for 2025-26.
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The Print Preference
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Through previous Library Champions projects, survey data and informal feedback, we know many of our students purchase personal copies of core texts due to need or preference.
With this in mind, we wanted to explore how students access teaching resources outside of library collections, and if there were any service developments or improvements the library could make to support. In partnership with a team of librarians, 4 Library Champions conducted guerrilla interviews across Bush House, the Strand, and Guys campus. They then analysed this data and took part in an ideation workshop to produce multiple recommendations.
As a result of this project we launched King's Book Trade: a KEATS forum to support King’s students to buy, sell, and swap course books. Students can do this knowing it is a safe space only members of the King’s community can access, and that their personal data is secure.
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Library Welcome Review
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We want all King’s students to make the most of the library services, collections and spaces they pay for with their fees. However, some student comments suggested that many students are not aware of the many different ways we could support their studies and their wellbeing.
So we invited 9 Library Champions and 6 disabled students for 1-1 sessions with a library researcher to review the Library Welcome (induction) content on our webpages, as well as the self-guided tours we offer in each library.
Their feedback was analysed by library staff and has been used to improve our resources and activities for start of term 2025.
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Library Outside the Library
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This project explored whether students would find it helpful to access Library support outside of library buildings—in spaces like residences, canteens, and social areas, and what kind of support students typically would need in those spaces.
4 student Library Champions attended a training session on “guerrilla” interview techniques and then joined the library project team to conduct interviews across three campuses.
Findings will inform campus-based outreach such as drop-in sessions, and support responses to student feedback on inductions and engagement with Libraries & Collections.
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Examples from 2024:
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What Makes a Good Reading List - Statement of Purpose
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In 2023, our Library Champions told us their main priority for reading lists was clarity: of their overall purpose, how to use them, and what to read and when.
In 2024, we took this feedback and turned it into reality by collaborating with nine students to create a statement of purpose for online reading lists at King's, to help provide a more consistent and equitable experience for our students.
Library Champions participated in a 2-hour workshop and a 1-hour feedback session with library staff.
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What Makes a Good Reading List – Conference presentation
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As a follow-up to the 2022-23 Library Champions project, “What Makes a Good Reading List”, two of the original project students joined library colleagues in preparing and presenting on the group’s findings at the WHELF (Wales Higher Education Libraries Forum) online conference 2024.
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Review of Open Education Resources at King's
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Integrating Open Education Resources (OERs) into courses can reduce the financial burdens not only on King's students, but for students globally.
To inform the next phase of our work to create and use OERs, we recruited eight Library Champions to help us understand how much they are currently used at King's.
Students took part in a 3-hour workshop and a 2-hour reading list audit session.
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Useability testing of King’s Library Search interface
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Five Library Champions took part in indiviudal, 1-hour, in-person, useability testing with library staff to help us learn what works well for students in Library Search, and what needs improvement.
We discovered various opportunities to make things easier for library users, e.g. around terminology and navigation, and are now prioritising these in our next project phase.
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“Guerrilla” user interviews at St. Thomas’ House Library
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King's new library space at St. Thomas’ Hospital is somewhat different from other King’s libraries: It’s unstaffed and part of a social study hub for King’s students and staff, as well as NHS staff working at St. Thomas’, with a café amongst the books and very open, modern aesthetics.
To find out what users think of this innovative space, we trained and deployed five Library Champions to carry out in-person user interviews, “guerrilla”-style (spontaneous and brief).
They found out much for us feed into improvement plans, e.g. appreciation of the cafe and seating options, as well as requirements for IT equipment and accessibility.
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