News

We are delighted to announce our Keynote speaker for the Mercian 24 Conference as Helen Rimmer aka The Kind Librarian.

After the success of Mercian 23 we are delighted to invite speakers to send us exciting, interesting, and original talks and (new this year) poster ideas to be featured at this year's Collaboration conference.

The Mercian Collaboration Conference group recently invited new members to help organise and run our Mercian 2024 conference.

Presentation slides from breakout sessions at the Mercian 2023 conference have been shared on the Collaboration site for all to access.

You can now access the full conference programme for our Mercian 2023 conference.

We are delighted to announce that our keynote speaker for #Mercian23 is Ben Davies from Chimp Management.

Call for speakers to submit session proposals - NOW CLOSED

The Mercian Collaboration Conference group is putting out a call for new members to help organise the 2023 confere

A massive thank you to everyone who submitted feedback on their thoughts of this year's Mercian Collaboration Conference, which took place online on 6th & 7th September 2022. 

The Mercian Collaboration Conference Group are looking forward to welcoming you to the 2022 Conference hosted by Cranfield University and brought to you with special thanks to our conference sponso

The Collaboration is delighted to announce that Bibliu have agreed to sponsor this year’s conference

The Collaboration is thrilled to welcome back long-time regional colleague, Antony Brewerton as this year’s keynote speaker.

Recordings and slides from the recent conference speaker briefing events are now available.

Yes! It's time to engage! Once again we're looking for exciting, interesting and original talks to be featured at this year's Collaboration conference.

As she departs for pastures and challenges new, the outgoing Mercian Staff Development Group Chair, shares some of her perspectives and experiences in the role.

It is time once again to reveal the theme for this September’s Collaboration conference – are you ready…to engage?

The Copyright, and Marketing and Communications, Groups have gone quiet for a long time: so now it's time to try revitalising and reviving their operations!

Dates for the 2022 Collaboration Conference have been drafted – so keep 6-7th September free if you’d like to attend as a delegate or speaker.

Presentations from the well-received social media session recently held online are now available for all.

For attendees wanting to reflect back on the event, as well as those who were unable to attend, the speakers at the recent

Recordings and slides from sessions at the 2021 conference have been shared on the Collaboration site for all to access.

Conference 2021 programme takes begins to take shape after record-breaking year for speaker submissions.

Discussions focussing on teaching and learning, especially in an online environment, formed the core of the latest virtual networking meeting

Keep up with the Collaboration’s events and activities, through our regular newsletter and discussion list.

Kirsty Kift reports on a recent event reviewing space management and access during the ongoing pandemic.

A time for change, as the new Chair and Steering Group members step forward to guide the Collaboration for the next two years.

Library staff at Aston University discussed pivoting to online library inductions in 2020, and the lessons which had emerged from the experience.

The end of a very different year was a time to consider the skills, aptitudes and challenges of the continued online support pivot for academic library staff.

As the new academic year begins, so too are details emerging for this year’s staff development events programme from the Collaboration.

Delegates had an opportunity to hear first-hand experiences of campus and library reopening foibles, challenges and successes in this popular online event.

One of the organisers provides a detailed report on the recent decolonisation event, which is a very hot current topic in academic libraries.

A spotlight on a number of recently published and important documentation, which each relate to the policy and activities of the Collaboration.

Links to articles, resources and information pertaining to academic libraries and the post-Covid-19/lockdown environment for services, staff, and students.

A pilot event drew delegates from across the Midland academic libraries to discuss their personal experiences of keeping services, and themselves, up and running during the pandemic lockdown pe

An update on some of the developments at the Mercian Collaboration, as we begin to adapt to current challenging working environment.

Our annual conference once again provides a fantastic opportunity for commercial organisations to support our work, as well as offering an effective route to attract new clients.

An invitation for contributions to a Mercian Collaboration Staff Development Group event organised jointly by De Montfort University, Leicester and Leicester University.

The third annual Mercian Collaboration conference delights, educations and entertains delegates from across the region.

After two successful years, the Collaboration's buddying scheme is looking for more people to become involved, as it continues to forge new links between regional library staff.

The Development Officer discusses some ongoing work to better understand how the Collaboration might better support and develop senior library staff within the regional context.

Once again, the opportunity for commercial organisations to support the Midlands’ premier academic library conference have been announced

Clare Langman reports on the latest event exploring the information and support needs of students at different stages of their studies.

Carol reflects on how she and colleagues approached the challenge of planning an effective workshop drawing on multiple speakers, before examining the day’s outcomes.

Digital literacy remains a key developmental task for academic librarians, and this even gave practitioners a great chance to catch up on recent developments.

Delegates as well as those who were unable to attend the recent annual Mercian Collaboration Conference, New for You!, may be

Visit to Birmingham City University library caps off an academic year packed with exciting, relevant and informative Mercian events.

How libraries can enhance students’ wellbeing, was a core theme at Warwick’s engaging and discursive workshop.

The Mercian Collaboration are pleased to announce the call for papers for our second annual conference, this year titled New for You!

Between revelation and celebration, why do second year students flounder in their studies, and how can libraries help them get back on track? An event aimed to find out!

Tania Rowlett and Rob Melocha report on an active and engaging workshop, hosted at Leicester, aimed at equipping library staff to cope with the forthcoming data protection legislative changes.

Liz Gardner reflects on a SDG event at Warwick, where exploration, customisation and diversity contributed to a rich attendee experience - and a chance to escape the everyday!

Jennifer Brotherton talks about the skills she developed through being an active participant in organising the Mercian Conference 2017.

For Anna, being a conference planning team member, was an eye opening and rich learning journey

The Mercian Buddying Scheme introduces an informal but effective professional support network into the UK Midlands.

The Mercian Collaboration grows in size as new academic library joins from October 2017.

After behind the scene discussions, the Mercian Collaboration is delighted to welcome another special interest group into the fold, representing an increase in specialised regional support and

Annie Styles highlights her experiences of introducing visiting Mercian library staff to the University of Nottingham's wonderfully refurbished science and engineering library.

The Conference Group, on behalf of the Mercian Collaboration, are pleased to announce the first Mercian Collaboration Conference 'In Libraries We Trust'

In January my colleague and myself welcomed the opportunity to attend the Library Space and Building Design Merician Staff Development training at the Lanchester Library (18th Jan 2017, University

As part of the development of small number of strategic academic roles across the University of Lincoln, Ian Snowley has recently taken on the new role of Dean of Student Learning Development

Another exciting opportunity to visit a Mercian Collaboration library service 

Publisher negotiations and regional support headline Jisc visit to Mercian

Social media discussions around library advocacy collated into Storify site