Library Technology And Innovation As A Force For Public Good A Case Study From UCL Library Services

Whilst there have been many innovations and new technology deployed in academic libraries around the world over the past ten years, as digital libraries have grown massively and physical library space has been reconfigured to meet student needs, few of these developments have had a profound impact outside of the university campus. This paper sets out the journey of University College London (UCL) Library Services over the past 10 years. In line with UCL's radical tradition and drawing from Jeremy Bentham's utilitarian principle of “the greatest happiness of the greatest number”, the library is playing a key role in opening access to education and research. First, the paper establishes how the library's role is being extended, as libraries become providers of excellent customer service, focused on providing an outstanding user experience. As students are seen increasingly as partners, their participation within the university is growing, and education, research and public engagement are intertwining as components of the student experience. The Connected Curriculum at UCL provides a framework for this (r)evolution in higher education. The library's use of Open Access tools, particularly with UCL Press, helps to connect high-quality science and student outputs with a wide public, enabling this research to be accessed and utilised on a global scale. Finally, the paper looks at innovative approaches to public engagement, leveraging social science and technology to deliver benefits to local communities, particularly in East London. Libraries should work together, across sectors, to address the current need for evidence-based information, and to provide opportunities for citizens to acquire transferable research skills.