INTERVIEW
Crucial role of the library in OU transformation
Rob Green talks to the Open University’s library chief Rosie Jones about the library’s role in the OU’s transformation, acting as a conduit for digital capabilities and building a sense of community in the digital learning space.
“PART-TIME higher education is not an easy market anymore,” says Rosie Jones, Director of Library Services at the Open University (OU). She points to a well-publicised fall in part-time learners in England, and at the OU’s own plans to save more than £100m from its annual budget.
Those plans are part of the biggest transfor- mation in the OU’s history and the majority of the savings will be reinvested to support the student experience – where the library will play a crucial role. “Whilst we are having to review every aspect of our operations, there is a really pos- itive element to all of this: the transformation we are aiming for will create a world-leading digital student experience resulting in a sus- tainable model for our university. “We are Europe’s largest university, leaders in digital provision, and we are leaders in online digital library delivery – the sector has always looked up to us. But we have been at the forefront for a long while and what we need to do is transform for the next stage of our journey.”
Despite falling student numbers, the OU is still easily the largest academic institution in the UK with over 170,000 students enrolled on courses. The focus on distance learning has brought its own challenges, as well as op- portunities to reach deeper into society than many bricks and mortar universities
Forging its own path
This distinction has forced the OU to be inno- vative in its approaches. When it was created in 1969, there were no leaders to follow –
20 INFORMATION PROFESSIONAL
Rob Green (@CILIP_Reporter,
rob.green@
cilip.org.uk) is Senior Reporter, Information Professional.
instead the OU had to forge its own path. With the recently announced Students First Transformation, it is building on those roots as an innovator.
For Rosie and the library service, that means leading the university’s digital capability work – alongside its core services to students and faculty. Rosie says: “Libraries are uniquely positioned. As regards digital capabilities, our initial work is focusing on staff at the univer- sity rather than the students themselves. We believe that improving the digital capabilities
December-January 2017/18
Interview OU Rosie Jones
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