Supporting historical research online: a workshop for information professionals

The Covid-19 pandemic has accelerated existing trends towards moving historical research and teaching into an online environment. While digital sources have been an important part of historical research for a long time, history students and historians still rely heavily on physical library and archive collections. Since the beginning of the pandemic, librarians, archivists and other information professionals have been working to find solutions to increasing the availability of collections and research materials in an environment heavily reliant on digital access. This workshop will explore what they have learnt from the past year while supporting their research communities remotely and what can be done to continue to support these communities in future.

The event is free, and everyone is welcome.

The event will be held online on Microsoft Teams.

You will be sent online joining instructions nearer the date.

Programme

14:00 - 14:05: Introduction

14:05 - 14:25: Julianne Simpson (John Rylands Research Institute and Library, University of Manchester), The virtual seminar at the John Rylands Library: support for teaching and workshops

14:25 - 14:45: Paul Cooke (Seeley Library, University of Cambridge), A Year of Change at the Seeley Library: How Cambridge has Adapted During the Pandemic

14:45 - 14:50: Questions

14:50 - 15:00: Break

15:00 - 15:20: Johanna Anderson (University of Gloucestershire), #Ebooksos - resisting the consignment of libraries to the pages of history books

15:20 - 15:40: Philip Carter (Royal Historical Society), What use are learned societies in a pandemic? Views from the Royal Historical Society

15:40 - 16:30: Questions and discussion

About the History Research Libraries Committee

The History Research Libraries Committee (HRLC) is a UK-based group that brings together everyone with an interest or involvement in history research collections, including librarians, archivists, museum staff and others. Formerly the Committee of London Research Libraries in History (CLRLH), it provides a forum for exchange, networking and collaboration between libraries and other organisations with history collections in the UK. Find out more about us on our website.