13 June 2025
Jodie Heap, Scholarly Communications and Research Support Librarian, Keele
I was really pleased (and slightly stunned!) to have the opportunity to attend the UKSG Brighton 2025 conference as a First-Time Attendee Award Winner. The conference was much bigger than I expected, but despite that, I felt warmly welcomed and at ease throughout. It also happened to coincide with a very well-timed mini-heatwave – a lovely bonus!
I went along to the First Timers’ welcome reception the evening before the main event and was thrilled to bump into a librarian I’d first met at a previous free UKSG event in Birmingham – and she had also won a sponsored place to attend. What are the chances! We hit it off again, and over drinks and canapés, shared our nerves, talked about the sessions we were looking forward to, and compared notes on which socials we were thinking of joining.
The next morning, I woke up bright and early and had a nice stroll to the main conference venue – conveniently just a few buildings down from my accommodation. The space was already buzzing, filled with sponsors from across the sector and librarians of all types. Thankfully, the conference app was brilliant for helping me plan out my day and to select the sessions I was most interested in. As someone new to the role of Research Librarian, I wanted to make the most of the sessions that could inform and shape my work.
Day 1: Libraries and AI – a full day of nerding out
The first day had a strong focus on artificial intelligence and its role in libraries – something I’m personally very interested in. I have a kind of three-fold interest in AI: how it intersects with teaching, how it affects search (especially with things like natural language and RAG models), and how it can be used for research visualisation (Elicit, Research Rabbit etc). I was genuinely thrilled to see all three areas being touched on in various sessions and in discussions in between.
The discussions – both during the Q&As and in the hallways between talks – were really engaging. It is a rare treat to be able to dive into “full librarian mode” and have others just as excited to do the same!
I also want to give a special mention to the session by Beth Montague-Hellen on Supporting postgraduate research students in scholarly communications and open research. It couldn’t have been more relevant to me. Beth captured so well the challenge I have been feeling in trying to figure out where I fit as a research librarian – both in terms of supporting PGR students and understanding my place within the wider university structure. It was both validating and incredibly helpful.
The evening wrapped up with supper and a quiz. I’m always a bit nervous about conference socials, but this one turned out to be a real highlight. Everyone at my table was lovely – great conversation, lots of laughter – even if our quiz skills were, shall we say, less than stellar. We proudly came in last place and were awarded the (surely coveted?) UKSG wooden spoon. A moment of true glory!
Day 2: Cybersecurity, hype cycles, and hidden gems
Day two kicked off with a shift in focus to cybersecurity – an area that, I suspect, many librarians don’t feel entirely equipped to deal with, despite its increasing relevance. The ongoing impact on the British Library was a clear reminder of how vulnerable we can be. I found myself wondering whether job titles like “Cybersecurity Librarian” might not be too far off in the future.
Later, I went to a more hands-on session: Light at the end of the (hype) cycle. It was a fun and practical conversation around how hype influences our work and how we can use it strategically with different stakeholders. While AI seemed like the obvious candidate, my table ended up discussing social media as a more mature example. It really got me thinking about how marketing has become part of the librarian role – one that I try to engage with, though I’ll admit it’s not where I naturally shine. I do my best, but I’m definitely not a marketeer!
Just a quick aside – but the food was excellent! Catering for that many people so well is no easy task. I also appreciated the way lunches were structured – they gave people the space to either take a breather or chat with others. I had some really insightful conversations with international attendees, and it was fascinating to compare perspectives and experiences.
I also enjoyed the poster presentations – being able to stop by and talk directly to the presenters was a great way to learn more about their projects. I found myself asking lots of questions, especially about topics I hadn’t come across before or hadn’t had time to explore properly. The Hidden REF in particular really caught my attention – something I definitely want to look into further.
That evening was a real treat. Magicians, live music from the UKSG band, and a full-on dance floor! I’ll admit I had some doubts about how a “club night” with librarians would go – but of course, I should have known better. Everyone got into the spirit of it, and it was such a fun way to end the day.
Day 3: Open Access – where are we now?
The final day turned its focus to Open Access – and whether it’s truly achieving its goal of serving the public. Although it was a shorter day, the sessions were still rich and thought-provoking. As someone relatively new to this side of the profession, it was interesting (and somewhat comforting!) to hear that even experienced colleagues find it a bit chaotic at times.
There was a lot of discussion around the big five publishers, rights retention, and the shift towards open research, textbooks, and educational resources. I joined my institution the same month our Rights Retention policy was implemented, and so far, it’s been smooth – but I’m very aware that things could shift quickly, especially depending on how current negotiations play out. It was reassuring to hear that my sense of confusion isn’t just down to being new – it’s a genuinely complex area that’s still evolving.
Final thoughts: community, energy, and excitement
If I had to sum it all up, I’d say this: being a librarian is exciting, challenging, and wonderfully collaborative. I met so many lovely, interesting people during the conference and had conversations that I know will stay with me. I’m really hoping to keep in touch with some of the people I met – maybe even form a bit of a community (dare I say, a Community of Practice?).
Attending UKSG Brighton 2025 as a First-Time Award Winner has been such a valuable and energising experience. I’m hugely grateful for the opportunity, and I’m looking forward to taking what I’ve learned back into my work – and staying involved in the amazing community that UKSG has brought together.