SCONUL Spring Conference 2026: Openness Under Pressure: Strategic leadership for libraries in an era of disruption

Bringing over 100 SCONUL members together, this conference on 1 May at the Royal College of Physicians, London, explored the library community’s commitment to openness and how it can be maintained in the face of countervailing pressures including growing economic and political nationalism and cybersecurity concerns. Across panel discussions, peer exchanges and lightening talks, attendees considered how to move beyond reactive adaptation toward intentional leadership: shaping digital futures that are equitable, resilient and aligned with institutional priorities. Delegates also had the opportunity to consider how to prepare for a future shaped by Gen Z and Alpha learners.

SCONUL Autumn Conference 2025: Library Transformation: People and place

This conference, on 19 November at The Studio in Birmingham, brought members together to discuss key challenges and opportunities in digital transformation and change management, with a focus on people and place. The conference also included the results of the triennial Library Design Awards, and the launch of Agents for change: Libraries and the UN Sustainable Development Goals, a set of case studies demonstrating how libraries contribute to their institution’s drive to support the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

SCONUL Spring Conference 2025: The library and digital transformation

This conference, on 3 March at The British Library Knowledge Centre, London, explored technology-enabled library spaces supporting research and teaching, the development of the systems’ librarian role, data-driven decision-making and service development, and AI skills for education and employability. Two SCONUL reports were launched at the conference, The Library Technology Landscape: Results of the SCONUL Technology Survey 2024 and the Future of the Systems Librarian report.

SCONUL Autumn Conference 2024: Fostering a sustainable and resilient library

This conference, held on 18 November at The Studio in Birmingham, brought members together to discuss common experiences and to share learning, and to collaborate on planning for the future.