Andy Appleyard, British Library, UK. The British Library: update on our new sustainable, high density, automated storage building.
Andy Appleyard is Director of Operations (North) at the British Library with the responsibility for the following services - Document Delivery and ILL, Digitization Services, Licensing Partnerships, Customer Services, the Public Lending Right and the UK Research Reserve (UKRR). He is also responsible for delivering the new high-density, automated, low oxygen storage building planned to complete in 2026.
Maurits van den Boogert, De Gruyter Brill. The end of print as a false prophesy: an historical perspective.
Maurits van den Boogert studied Middle Eastern Studies at Leiden University, where he received his PhD in 2001 and remained a research associate. In 2006, Maurits van den Boogert joined Brill as Academic Project Manager for the Encyclopaedia of Islam, before becoming Publishing Director for Middle East, Islam, and African Studies in 2019 and Senior Publishing Director in 2021. Maurits has played a key role in the development and expansion of Brill's publishing program and has been instrumental in accelerating the transition to open access and further expanding Brill's presence as a leading global publisher in the humanities.
Sandra Bracegirdle, University of Manchester, and Hannah Mateer, University of Edinburgh. Working together to develop a national collection: the UK Print Book Collection.
Research Libraries UK (RLUK) is a consortium of 39 research libraries in the UK and Ireland, which has a number of networks and working groups including the Collections Strategy Network (CSN) which is working to develop a distributed UK Print Book Collection as part of the ‘Collective Collections’ strand of the RLUK ‘Transforming Libraries’ strategy. It is envisaged that this shared print collection will extend beyond RLUK libraries with SCONUL libraries, national libraries, special libraries and Jisc all playing a role. The UK PBC will help to ensure sustainable preservation of and access to shared print holdings in the UK for current and future users. This presentation will focus on the development of the shared print approach, challenges and opportunities, data and metadata issues, and our current and future plans.
Sandra Bracegirdle is Associate Director, Collection Strategies at the University of Manchester where she is a member of the Library’s Executive team and strategic lead for Manchester’s modern collections, including acquisitions and subscriptions, collection management, and discovery and metadata. She is a member of the RLUK (Research Libraries UK) Collection Strategies Network and is part of the working group which is developing plans for a UK Print Book Collection.
Hannah Mateer (BA, MA, MCLIP) is Associate Director, Collections Services at the University of Edinburgh where she is a member of the Library’s Senior Management team. Hannah is responsible for the development of print and online collections to support teaching and research, and leads teams providing services which deliver access to library resources. She is a member of the RLUK (Research Libraries UK) Collections Strategy Network, Deputy Chair of the Jisc Library Hub Community Advisory Board and Deputy Chair of the SCURL (Scottish Confederation of University & Research Libraries) Collections & Metadata Group.
Frédéric Brodkom, Université catholique de Louvain, Belgium. The collaborative printed journals preservation project of French-speaking universities of Belgium: a 20-year retrospective.
Karin Byström, Uppsala University Library, Sweden, and Sandra Bracegirdle, The University of Manchester Library, UK. Research on optimal numbers of copies and consequences for shared print programs and Epico.
Karin Byström is part of the working group for the Swedish collaboration for shared print. She is a collection development librarian at Uppsala University Library and has worked with library collections for more than 20 years.
Sandra Bracegirdle is Associate Director, Collection Strategies at the University of Manchester. She is a member of the RLUK (Research Libraries UK) Collection Strategies Network and is part of the Print Storage Working Group which is developing plans for a UK Distributed Print Book Collection.
Hendrik Defoort, Ghent University, Belgium. Never waste a good crisis or how a calamity evolved into a gateway to new services and collection mobility at Ghent University Library (2007-2024)
Olaf Eigenbrodt, Hamburg State and University Library, Germany. Update from Speicherverbund Nord - From shared archiving to cooperative storage? A needs assessment project of the Northern German Shared Archiving Cooperation.
Zoitsa Gkinni, National Library of Greece. Aligning Initiatives with SDGs at the National Library of Greece.
Stéphanie Groudiev, Guillaume Niziers, Centre technique du livre de l'enseignement supérieur, France. Planning a new research library in France: l'Humathèque.
Stéphanie Groudiev has been holding the position of Project Manager and Director of the "Humathèque", the Research Library of the "Campus Condorcet" (France) from 2015 till August 2024. Stéphanie Groudiev has just been appointed Inspector General in the French Ministry of Higher Education as from September 1, 2024.
Guillaume Niziers has been holding the position of Director of the "Centre technique du livre de l'enseignement supérieur" (France) since 2018. The CTLes is the Depository Library for print collections of academic and research institutions in the Paris metropolitan area.
Liz Hayden, University of Ottawa Library. Communication and change management in shared print programs: an investigation into integration practices and stakeholder perception.
The ever-expanding landscape of scholarly materials has compelled libraries to adopt collaborative approaches, such as shared print programs, to overcome the challenges of limited budgets, space constraints, and increasing publications. While existing literature extensively covers the development and technical aspects of shared print programs, there is a notable gap in understanding how individual libraries integrate shared print into their collection practices and how they communicate shared print initiatives with stakeholders. Further, the impacts, if any, are unclear. This session will report on the key findings and recommendations stemming from this investigation.
Liz Hayden is the Associate University Librarian for Content and Access at the University of Ottawa and a member of the Coordinating Committee of the Keep@Downsview share print program in Canada.
Mike Märki, Cooperative Storage Library Switzerland. Facing obstacles: challenges in construction projects and innovations.
The need for structural expansions and automated storage modules at the Cooperative Storage Library Switzerland is underscored by a growing space shortage and escalating operational expenses. Achieving the next phase of evolution demands innovative solutions. One approach involves expanding storage capacity by introducing several automated storage modules while simultaneously focusing on logistical innovations. Nevertheless, overcoming multidimensional challenges is crucial to the success of these endeavors. You will be provided with an in-depth overview of the current status of the construction project and innovations, along with the planned next steps.
Mike Märki is CEO of the Cooperative Storage Library Switzerland and a member of the Board of Directors of Speicherbibliothek AG, both non-profit SMEs. Prior to this, he held various specialist and management positions in the management of major banks and in public administration. He completed the Executive MBA in Lucerne and, in addition to general management, has further specialisations in project and process management as well as ICT.
Johannes Neuer, German National Library in Leipzig. Automation and Sustainability: Key Considerations for Building DNB’s Fifth Extension in Leipzig.
The German National Library (Deutsche Nationalbibliothek / DNB) is Germany’s central archival library and – with the German Museum of Books and Writing, the German Exile Archive 1933–1945 and the German Music Archive – both a repository and museum in one. Since 1913, DNB has been collecting, cataloguing and archiving all text-based, visual and audio publications issued in Germany, along with German-language media and works about Germany from all over the world. At its historic Leipzig location, DNB is currently planning its fifth extension to add 213 kilometres of shelving for 35.5 million items. Automation and sustainability are key considerations for this new storage facility, while still providing ideal preservation conditions for paper-based materials. This presentation outlines the requirements for the new building and presents the winners of the architectural design competition.
Johannes Neuer is Director of the German National Library in Leipzig and has been working in the library sector since 2009. Before joining DNB in August 2023, he held senior leadership positions at The New York Public Library and a large German library supplier.
Patrice Ract, Bibliothèque nationale de France. French national Library's project for conservation centre in Amiens: where do things stand?
In September 2022, the Bibliothèque nationale de France (BnF) came to the EPICO conference in Vienna to present the reasons for building its new conservation centre, its location and the architectural and functional programme. Two years later, the BnF has chosen the architects who will carry out the project. This presentation in Barcelona is an opportunity to present the architectural project selected in March 2024 and the state of progress of the design studies.
Patrice Ract is a library curator at BnF. He is currently the deputy director of French national Library's project for the conservation centre.
Helen Sakrihei and Jonny Edvardsen, National Library of Norway. The importance of print copies in a digital library - experiences from the National Library of Norway.
In 2006 the National Library of Norway decided to digitize the entire collection. Today most monographs and a large part of the newspapers published in Norway are available on the NLN website. How has this affected the demand for print copies, and how has the digitization project affected the NLN’s policy for the print collection? To what extent is the digitized collection available for the different user groups, and how is the use of the collection? When it comes to sharing resources with foreign libraries parts of both the print collection and the digital collection are available for access / interlibrary lending.
Helen Sakrihei is Head of the Repository Library at the National Library of Norway. She is a member of IFLA Document Delivery and Resource Sharing (DDRS) Standing Committee, and of the Norwegian Library Association’s Group for Interlibrary Lending and Reference.
Jonny Edvardsen is responsible for the Centre for Cultural Heritage Digitisation at the National Library of Norway. The Centre coordinates and facilitates the mass digitisation of all sorts of documents from Norwegian Archives, Libraries and Museums: movies, video recordings, sound recordings, photos, books, periodicals, archival materials and more.
Alessandro Sidoti, Biblioteca Nazionale Centrale di Firenze, Italy. Developing effective safety plans: preparing teams in libraries and cultural heritage institutions for disaster response and recovery.
László Simon-Nanko and Mohr Siebeck. "I love the smell of book ink in the morning" (Umberto Eco): on the materiality of the academic and the niches of small publishers.
László Simon-Nanko is Head of Sales and Customer Service and Key Account Manager International at the German humanities publisher Mohr Siebeck, where he has worked since 2016. In his role, he has driven forward the topic of digitization and open access for books and journals as well as the further digitization and internationalization of the sales process. His academic publications include a study on the state of publishing and open access in Hungarian archaeology (2015). He studied archaeology, ancient Near Eastern studies and religious studies in Tübingen.
Marten Stavenga, John Benjamins Publishing. Will print survive: experiences of a specialized smaller publishing company.
Marten Stavenga is Strategy Officer at John Benjamins Publishing Company, based in Amsterdam, with more than 25 years of experience in the scientific publishing industry. He oversees the company's shift to Open Access, increased digital publishing, and new project initiatives. He serves as Board Member of the community-led OA Switchboard project and is a strong supporter of innovation and collaboration in scientific publishing and communication. Marten holds a degree in Business Administration from the University of Groningen.
Niels Peter Thomas, Springer Nature. The past and the future of print books: between readers' preference and AI.
As Managing Director Books, Dr. Niels Peter Thomas is responsible for Springer Nature's book portfolio, which includes more than 300,000 scientific books in all disciplines and 13,000 new books per year. In addition, he is responsible for more than 500 publishing colleagues worldwide and coordinates the book business of Springer Nature's renowned book imprints such as Springer, Palgrave Macmillan, J.B. Metzler and others. His main tasks also include the further development of printed and electronic books, innovative technical features, new business models and workflows. Building on his previous position as Chief Book Strategist, he is responsible for defining Springer Nature's global strategy to shape the future of book publishing and reading. Niels Peter Thomas has been with Springer since 2005 and has worked in various editorial and management positions in Heidelberg and Wiesbaden as well as in Beijing, China. He has a master's degree in electrical engineering and a doctorate in economics. The School of Publishing at Beijing University "Beijing Institute of Graphic Communication” has appointed him Visiting Professor. Niels Peter Thomas regularly gives lectures in China and Germany.
Wolfgang Undorf, National Library of Sweden. How to do what we know we should do: ways towards a Swedish shared print initiative.
Johanna Vesterinen, National Repository Library of Finland. Building a library as a turnkey project.
The National Repository Library of Finland was founded in 1989. Nowadays, the collection consists of 104 shelf kilometres books, serials, CD’s and LP’s. Librarys’ mission is to receive and store material transferred from Finnish libraries and make it available via libraries to whoever needs it.
Year 2021 was a notable one: it was found out the library building was in a poor condition with plenty of failures and potential risk factors. Repairing the building would be both hazard and expensive. Also, it was obvious that the collection space would reach its limit by the end of 2024. Having thoroughly investigated all options, a new building was considered the most profitable solution. And as planning proceeded, the project was decided to implement as a Turnkey project.
The new Repository Library Building in Kuopio - size of a soccer field and a pricetag of 20 M€ - is scheduled to be ready at the end of year 2024. Johanna Vesterinen will tell about the process from the planning to the present.
Johanna Vesterinen has a long career in Finnish libraries. For the past 20 years, she has been working in various library managerial posts. Since 2017 she has been the Library Director of the National Repository Library. Though she has been taken part of other library building projects, nothing comes close to this one: "This is absolutely once in a lifetime project!"
Birgit Vinther Hansen, Royal Danish Library. New low energy storage in Vinge - aspects of sustainability.
Last year the Royal Danish Library finished moving 90 shelf kilometres of books, manuscripts and photographic material to our new low-energy storage facility in Vinge. The storage complex shares facilities with the National Museum, with whom collaboration has been established throughout the planning and building process, as well as with regard to maintenance. The storages are built with a concrete construction allowing an extremely low energy use, a construction allowing for the temperature to passively change with the seasons outside.
As part of the preparation, to use energy efficiently for preservation, a major move has been to divide all the collections into climate zones for stable materials (pre-1800/post 1980 books, silver gelatin processes) or unstable materials (acid paper, iron gall ink, colour photography, acetate negatives) allowing us to only cool down (to 5 °C) the most vulnerable parts. Also, focus has been on an efficient use of the storage space using our new developed program OctoPus to optimize and get an overview of the collections in the huge storage.
However, the use of concrete to build the storage may not be a sustainable solution. This year, a project has focused on the lifetime cycle (LCA) of the entire building to shed light on how sustainable the storage is despite the low energy consumption.
Birgit Vinther Hansen is a conservator (cand.scient.cons) specialized in preservation of library materials. She has worked on strategies on how to preserve Danish cultural heritage on acidic paper in a National Committee (2004-2008), on mitigating risk during exhibition, on research on degradation of inks and pigments, and research on using AI for predicting damaging climate in storage. Today focus in mainly on sustainable use of energy while preserving the library collections as good as possible.
Tanja Vogel, CSLS Büron, Switzerland. The Cooperative Storage Library Switzerland (CSLS) in Büron could prepare an intervention on Integrated Pest Management (IPM).
Panel discussion
Lluís M. Anglada i de Ferrer is Open Science adviser at the CSUC (Consortium of Services for the Universities of Catalonia). Before, founder and director of the CBUC (Consortium of Catalan Academic Libraries), the director of the Catalonia Technical University Libraries, and a professor at the Faculty of Librarianship (Barcelona University). He played an active role in the Consortia Subscriptions of journals (since 1998), OA-PMH repositories (since 2001), Open Access (since 2006), ‘Diamon’ journals (since 2008), Open Science (since 2016), and FAIR data (since 2020). Lluís has been member of several professional boards at the national and international level (SPARC Europe Board, LIBER Executive Board, OCLC’s Global Council) and publisher advisory councils (ProQuest, Wiley, Nature…) and he published about 40 articles and book chapters. More info
Lucia Campanella is a Marie Skłodowska-Curie Postdoctoral Fellow at the IN3 and the Department of Arts and Humanities at the Universitat Oberta de Catalunya in Barcelona. As a member of the Global Literary Studies Research Group (GlobaLS, UOC), she leads the Anarchist Translation Flows and World Literature Project (ARGOT). Her research expertise lies in comparative literature, translation history, and the intersection of literature and politics, with a particular focus on anarchist print culture.
In line with her commitment to research and public humanities, she has worked extensively on digitizing and organizing literary and periodical archives, notably through her collaboration with the Anaforas online repository (Universidad de la República) and more recently with Lidiap (Bibliothek der Freien).
Marten Stavenga is Strategy Officer at John Benjamins Publishing Company, based in Amsterdam, with more than 25 years of experience in the scientific publishing industry. He oversees the company's shift to Open Access, increased digital publishing, and new project initiatives. He serves as Board Member of the community-led OA Switchboard project and is a strong supporter of innovation and collaboration in scientific publishing and communication. Marten holds a degree in Business Administration from the University of Groningen.
Jaume Subirana is Professor of literature at Universitat Pompeu Fabra (Barcelona), and a writer and poetry translator (Collins, Heaney, Kooser, Stevenson). He has been Visiting Professor at Duke University, the University of British Columbia, Brown University, Università Ca’ Foscari Venezia and Trinity College, Hartford. His main research topics are contemporary literature, history of culture and Catalan studies, but he has also written about Barcelona, private libraries and literary commemoration. [@SubiranaJaume]
