The Rylands
The University of Manchester Library Awards, known as ‘The Rylands’ will be presented as part of the Library’s Annual Conference event in June 2025.
Nominations have been received across eight categories. A short summary of each nomination and category can be found in the drop down menus below. To read the original nominations in full, please see the following document:
Award categories and nominations
1. Above and Beyond Award
For an individual or group that has shown the most initiative and desire to go above and beyond the duties of their role.
Nominations
| Name | Nomination |
| Emily Tan | Emily has led on both the Next Chapter and Rylands125 projects with skill, passion and professionalism. Her expertise, clarity and creativity have shaped exciting new gallery spaces and strengthened vital stakeholder relationships. |
| Get Started 2024 Project Team | This cross-directorate team delivered an outstanding 2024 campaign, embedding student support across the University and ensuring a welcoming, inclusive transition into academic life. |
| Flora Bourne | Flora goes above and beyond to ensure the success of the eTextbook Programme, supporting student access while taking on new projects and mentoring colleagues with generosity and care. |
| Collections Assistant Team at Rylands - Karen, Kirsty, Thomas and MT | The team has exceeded expectations during the challenges of the Next Chapter project, demonstrating positivity and initiative while supporting essential behind-the-scenes work. |
| Dominic Marsh | Dom has taken on immense responsibility, leading three teams and managing the Rylands renovation with tireless dedication. He is the backbone of the building and an inspiration to us all. |
| The rest of the RACE Centre team (Maya Sharma, Harry Eyre, Tia Harriott) | Following the departure of their former head of service, the team have stepped up to meet high demand and delivered exceptional academic, public and community engagement. |
| Dom Marsh | Dom’s hard work and positive attitude are clear to all, especially through the transformation of Rylands spaces. His leadership has been crucial to the success of the Next Chapter project. |
| Lianne Smith | Lianne has gone to extraordinary lengths to maintain her high standard of curatorial work, considering the very difficult circumstances under which she currently operates. |
| Clare Baker (Collections Coordinator) and the Collections Team | Clare and her team have ensured the smooth movement and management of collections under tight deadlines and challenging conditions, supporting all areas of Special Collections. |
| The Collections Coordinator and the Collection Assistants (Clare Baker, Thomas Gordon, Karen Jacques, Kirsty De Loose and MT | The Collections Assistants have worked tirelessly behind the scenes, supporting major moves and events. Their efforts have been vital to the success of projects like the Next Chapter and DeepStore relocation. |
| Emily Tan and Elaine Sheldon | Emily and Elaine have gone above and beyond to deliver The Next Chapter opening exhibitions, shaping every detail with care and creativity. Their work set a new benchmark for excellence. |
| Lianne Smith | Lianne has provided extraordinary service during uncertain times. |
| Harry Eyre, Lianne Smith, Tia Harriott (RACE Centre) | The team have consistently gone above and beyond to manage rising demand for archive access, teaching and research support, always responding with positivity and professionalism. |
| Justin Parker | Justin’s long-standing commitment to the Library, particularly his dogged negotiation skills and collaborative spirit, has left a lasting legacy. A fitting end to a career that began with a Together award. |
| Vicky Flood | Vicky is a respected leader in Inter-Library Loans, making valuable contributions across the sector while also championing wellbeing within the Acquisitions team. |
| Carol Avorgbedor | Carol’s quiet strength, leadership and commitment have been extraordinary in the face of profound personal loss. Her consistency and care continue to anchor her team through every challenge. |
| Lucy May | For going the extra mile and expertly managing the launch of the new Office for Open Research website. |
| John McCrory | John always goes above and beyond, offering creative solutions and heartfelt support to colleagues, with his work on the Sikh Heritage Digital Exhibition standing out. |
| Steve Carlton, Olivia Rye, Abigail Harrison-Henshall, Elizabeth Warnock, Tristan Martin | The team demonstrated vigilance and integrity by identifying and escalating inappropriate activity, directly influencing University policy and safeguarding resources. |
| Carlene Barton | Carlene has led multiple strategic projects under pressure, shaping the University’s digital skills offer and ensuring alignment with institutional priorities. |
| Lianne Smith of the AIU RAce Centre | For being an inspiration - with regard to her quality work produced under recent challenging circumstances. |
| Lianne Smith | For working with her team to provide an amazing service at the AIU RACE Centre under challenging circumstances. |
| Dom Marsh | For being someone everyone can turn to, calmly juggling countless responsibilities — and for the quiet room. |
| RACE Centre Team | Despite low staffing and many challenges, the RACE Centre Team continues to provide inspiring, user-focused services and support. |
| Dom Marsh and Emily Tan | Dom and Emily have led the operational delivery of the Next Chapter project with commitment and care, ensuring the building and collections remained protected throughout. |
| Subscriptions Team | Despite staffing challenges, the team has remained focused and motivated, continuing to meet key deadlines while supporting one another through a period of change. |
| Isabel Sebastian | Isabel’s generous coaching and process mapping support has helped colleagues through change, showing the value of sharing skills for the benefit of others. |
| The Special Collections Reading Room Team | This team has remained calm, welcoming and efficient despite constant change, showing resilience, expertise and good humour under pressure. |
| The Rylands Visitor Services Team | The team has continued to deliver excellent service with warmth and positivity throughout a full year of disruption caused by the Next Chapter works. |
| Steph Dyson | For consistently going above and beyond to care for and protect the Rylands building. |
2. Creative Approach Award
For an individual or group that has demonstrated unusual levels of creativity or innovation in their role or on a project.
Nominations
| Name | Nomination |
| Maya Sharma | Maya has shown outstanding creativity and commitment to anti-racist and decolonising work, forging deeper connections between our collections and the communities we serve. |
| Tereza Ward | For her creative and engaging Christian Brethren Bicentenary showcase, especially the impressive slide wall with antique projector. |
| Lucy May | Lucy skilfully led the development and launch of the Office for Open Research website, applying agile project management to deliver an outstanding result in a short space of time. |
| Elaine Sheldon | Elaine’s innovative work on magnetic object mounting has transformed how we display 2D items. Her environmentally friendly and elegant designs mark a significant step forward in exhibition practices. |
| Lucy May | Lucy has been the driving force behind the Open Research website and much more, holding the team together with calm and clarity through fast-paced and high-pressure work. |
| Lucy May | Lucy brought creativity, agility and fun to the successful launch of the new Office for Open Research website, guiding the team with positivity and flair. |
| The EPER team (Exhibitions and Public Engagement with Research) | The EPER team has shown creativity and resilience in delivering the new gallery spaces, devising engaging activities and adapting to constant change with commitment. |
| Fred Breese, Jinyan Li, Nilani Ganeshwaran, Tom Higgins, Chris Gibson, Steve Carlton, John Hynes | By enhancing the Open Research Tracker, the team delivered innovative modules aligned with emerging University priorities through agile, collaborative working. |
| Imaging team | For their creativity and hard work in expanding access to Special Collections and enhancing collections through innovative digitisation efforts. |
3. Inspirational Action Award
For an individual or group that has taken a course of action or responded to a situation that has inspired others to think or act differently.
Nominations
| Name | Nomination |
| Michael Stevenson | Michael has expertly coordinated the Open Research Fellowship Programme, providing strategic and compassionate support to Fellows and ensuring its continued success across disciplines. |
| Janette Martin & Jane Gallagher | Janette and Jane have shown exceptional leadership and resilience, offering steadfast personal and professional support during a challenging year. |
| Jane Gallagher | For always being resoundingly lovely and kind. |
| Dominic Marsh and Emily Tan | For calmly and positively steering the Next Chapter project while leading their own teams and ensuring the Library remained open and welcoming throughout. |
| Dom Marsh and Emily Tan | For their dedication to reopening the Rylands and supporting the success of the Next Chapter project. |
| The AIU Race Centre staff | The AIU Race Centre Team provided a warm and engaging experience for visiting US students, exemplifying collaboration and responsive, inclusive programming. |
| Kathryn Miller | Kathryn leads with inclusivity and integrity, modelling best practice in recruitment and people management that has inspired others to make meaningful change. |
4. Social Responsibility Award
For an individual or group that has made a successful contribution to furthering the University’s social responsibility goals and / or has made a difference to a particular section of the community, the environment etc.
Nominations
| Name | Nomination |
| Laura Caradonna-Snow and Mark Furness | Through conservation and community engagement, Laura and Mark’s long-term work on the Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji has opened up access to a sacred manuscript and strengthened ties with the Sikh community. |
| Helen Foster | For her inspirational co-leadership of the Environmental Sustainability Working Group and tireless advocacy as the voice of sustainability in the Library. |
| Beth Norgrove, Mikey Tang, John Hynes, Scott Taylor | The team’s work on tracking contributions to the UN SDGs has enhanced understanding, supported reporting and informed University strategy. |
| Sikh Community Heritage Project team | This cross-team effort enabled the Guru Granth to travel to a Gurdwara for the first time in 100 years. Their socially engaged practice strengthened community ties and set a new sector benchmark. |
| Nilani Ganeshwaran | She is helpful and supportive. |
5. Equity, Diversity and Inclusivity Initiative Award
For an individual or group that has made a significant difference in promoting EDI by working with our communities within the Library and / or beyond.
Nominations
| Name | Nomination |
| Maya, Lianne, Tia and Harry at the RACE Centre | For their outstanding work preserving and widening access to vital resources, building strong community links, and sharing their unique expertise with generosity and impact. |
| Sarah Howley | Sarah has been a passionate advocate for inclusive teaching, especially around neurodiversity, constantly pushing for better understanding and new ideas within the team. |
| Mat Bancroft | For his inspiring work connecting with communities of colour to diversify the British Pop Archive. |
| Jane Gallagher | Jane co-led the EDI working group with thoughtfulness and dedication, keeping inclusivity firmly on the agenda across the Library. |
| Kristian Scott | For ensuring our website is accessible to all, proposing innovative solutions and supporting colleagues with expertise and care. |
| Maya Sharma | For delivering an excellent programme of events at the AIU RACE Centre with her team and for working with communities to showcase their culture and stories in a supportive environment. A well deserved appointment to director! |
| Amin Hussain, Padma Inala, Abi Harrison-Henshall | This trio has worked tirelessly to champion Inclusive Recruitment, inspiring positive change across the Library and beyond through their collaborative and impactful work. |
6. Scholarship Award
For an individual or group that has made an outstanding contribution to sector thinking and practice by presenting, publishing or otherwise sharing their work.
Nominations
| Name | Nomination |
| The Imaging Team | Their work is truly sector-leading and groundbreaking, in ways that a lay person like myself can't really describe. But they deserve to be recognised for it. |
| Justyna Pujszo and Fred Breese | Justyna and Fred’s monthly Open Research Digest has achieved international reach, sharing creative, insightful content that enriches the wider research community. |
| Nicola Tomlinson, Padma Inala, Sarah Kneen, Charlotte Evans, Lily Pearson | The team has led internationally recognised work on 'Shut Up and Write' initiatives, advancing wellbeing and community among postgraduate researchers. |
| Justyna Pujszo & Fred Breese | Their ongoing work on the Open Research Digest continues to shape sector-wide understanding with well-researched, thoughtful and timely contributions. |
7. Outstanding Newcomer Award
For the individual member of staff who has joined the Library since July 2024 and made an outstanding initial contribution either on a particular project or by visibly embracing our University’s core values.
Nominations
| Name | Nomination |
| Sarah Astbury, Visitor Services Supervisor | Since day one, Sarah has brought calm and confidence to her supervisor role, maintaining a warm and welcoming atmosphere despite the disruption caused by the Next Chapter works. |
| Victoria (Vikki) Garlick | Vikki has made a huge impact since joining the Engagement team, tackling every challenge with enthusiasm and dedication. Her leadership on communications, subject guides and engagement work is exceptional. |
| Finn Hobin | Finn has excelled as Acting Library Spaces Coordinator, showing initiative, clarity and positivity while delivering meaningful improvements and building strong relationships across teams. |
| Sarah Astbury | Sarah has quickly become a valued and reliable team member, consistently delivering on projects and showing real commitment to understanding and improving the Library’s retail offer. |
| Emily Ingle | Emily has embraced her role with integrity and initiative, producing inclusive and high-quality metadata, and helping the team apply University values in thoughtful, meaningful ways. |
| Sarah Astbury | Sarah stepped into her supervisor role with confidence and heart, going above and beyond on the Library’s retail offer and bringing her team together with warmth and leadership. |
| Finn Hobin | In her new role as Spaces Coordinator, Finn has already made a big impact, demonstrating service excellence and a commitment to clear communication and problem-solving. |
| Sarah Astbury | Sarah has brought calm, structure and confidence to her role as Visitor Services Supervisor during a time of significant change, helping prepare the Rylands for its exciting new chapter. |
| Josh Emsley | Josh has made a big impact in a short time, enthusiastically contributing to a range of projects and bringing warmth and energy to the team. |
| Matthew Jackson | Matthew is a thoughtful and proactive newcomer who has contributed to a wide range of projects and refreshed ten online guides in his first six months. |
| Gabba Sutcliffe de Oliveira | As our first Digital Skills Intern, Gabba has shaped a brand-new role with energy and creativity, supporting LinkedIn Learning and delivering impactful design and events work in just three months. |
| Denise Connelly | Denise has driven the LinkedIn Learning pilot forward with clarity, speed and humour. Her problem-solving skills and positive energy have made her an indispensable part of the project. |
| Josh Emsley | Josh has brought leadership, diplomacy and energy to every project, from chatbot development to Open Research Roadshows. A true asset to the Future Leaders programme. |
| Josh Emsley | Josh has made an exceptional impact across many projects, approaching every opportunity with confidence, enthusiasm and initiative. |
| Josh Emsley | Josh has driven progress in Open Research engagement and developed an innovative AI chatbot. His leadership and values-driven approach have had far-reaching impact. |
| Jane Bailey | Jane has navigated a complex role with courage and humanity, strengthening cross-institutional relationships and empowering colleagues to support AMBS. |
| Mark Ogden | Mark has delivered above and beyond since joining, leading on AI support and contributing pioneering ideas to student digital skills and teaching delivery. |
| Josh Emsley | Josh has led development of an innovative chatbot and brought fresh ideas to the table, showing consistent enthusiasm and adaptability. |
| Noémie Aubert Bonn | Noémie has made an exceptional contribution to Open Research, delivering new training and a major conference while bringing academic insight and infectious enthusiasm to the team. |
| Wing Sze Cheng | Wing Sze has made a brilliant start, taking on complex digital preservation tasks with energy and precision, while continuing her professional development. |
8. Turing AI Partnership Award
For an individual or group, internal or external to the Library that has shown significant innovation through partnerships in the field of Artificial Intelligence.
Nominations
| Name | Nomination |
| Pete Morris | For actively exploring AI solutions to help solve Library challenges, investing time and energy to support others in their experimentation. |
| Pete Morris | Pete’s innovative use of AI has transformed video accessibility, creating a custom transcription tool that saves time and improves quality. His dedication has made a lasting impact. |
| Lindsay Wilson | Lindsay has creatively used AI to enhance Library imagery with subtlety and responsibility, allowing our homepage to shine without the need for new photography. |
| Josh Emsley | Josh has played a pivotal role in advancing AI at Manchester, leading cross-institutional chatbot work with diplomacy, vision and technical skill. |
| Pete Morris | Pete has explored AI’s potential with creativity and technical flair, partnering across the Library to develop practical tools and explore ethical questions. |
| Pete Morris | Pete’s experimentation with open-source AI has pushed boundaries, from transcription tools to metadata generation, and fostered collaboration across teams. |
Recipients for the following award categories have been selected by Library Executive Team.
Enriqueta and John Rylands Staff Member of the Year Award
For the individual member of staff that has made the most significant contribution to the Library this year by visibly embracing our University’s core values.
Enriqueta and John Rylands Team of the Year Award
For the Team that has made the most significant contribution to the Library during the course of the year by visibly embracing the University’s core values.
Enriqueta and John Rylands Outstanding Professional Contribution Award
An external award to be presented to an individual who has made a significant contribution to the sector / profession either on a particular project or throughout their career to date.