We are delighted to welcome Research Libraries as the latest supporter of the Technician Commitment.
Research Libraries are a consortium of 37 significant research libraries. As RLUK shared in their announcement on joining the Technician Commitment, “[R]esearch libraries, archives, and information institutions hold great technical skills and expertise. While the term ‘technician’ may not easily translate to the rich set of professional identities we celebrate within the research library community, we can readily identify the many diverse skills represented in academic and research libraries essential to producing new knowledge through research, innovation, and experimentation. These range from research data managers to archivists, from software developers to conservators, from photographers to open access publishing professionals.”
RLUK has published a statement of support highlighting the importance of technical and specialist skills to research libraries, and the application of the Technician Commitment to roles across the research library, archive, and information communities. The statement is accompanied by a series of actions that RLUK will undertake to support the Commitment under its strategy, The Library Transforming.
Dr Jessica Gardner, RLUK chair said that:
RLUK is delighted to become a named supporter of the Technician Commitment and to promote its contents and values to the research library community. We look forward to working with our members, the AHRC, and the Science Council to champion the importance of technical and specialist skills contained within research libraries and the essential contribution they make to research and learning.
Professor Christopher Smith, Executive Chair, Arts and Humanities Research Council said:
I am delighted to see RLUK become a named supporter of the Technician Commitment. What’s important is what comes next, a deep and serious recognition by applicants and funders that librarians and archivists are critical parts of our research ecosystem, cocreators of our best research and deserving of our full support and recognition, and AHRC has pledged to work with RLUK to this end.
Kelly Vere MBE, Programme Director of the Technician Commitment said:
We are delighted to welcome RLUK to the Technician Commitment. We recognise the technical and specialist skills across research libraries that are so crucial to enabling research, innovation and education and we look forward to working with RLUK and AHRC to ensure increased visibility, recognition and opportunity for this vital community.
You can read RLUK’s announcement here.
