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 2026.
Nominations were received across eight categories.
A short summary of each category can be found in the drop down menus below.
Award categories
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
| Sophie Coulthard | Sophie Coulthard is recognised for exceptional exhibition preparation, including innovative papyrus glazing and conservation work that enabled new access to the Book of the Dead scroll. She coordinated framing work at pace while maintaining her regular workload with a positive and supportive approach. |
| Sally Finkil | Sally Finkil is recognised for consistently leading with empathy, understanding and care. She supports colleagues through difficult tasks and workplace situations, helping people feel valued and able to do their best. |
| Bethany O'Donoghue | Bethany O'Donoghue is recognised for applying her data apprenticeship learning to improve e-resource monitoring and reporting. She developed automation, dashboards and evidence-based insights that strengthened licence compliance, informed decisions and supported colleagues across the Library. |
| Finn Hobin | Finn Hobin is recognised for outstanding work as spaces coordinator. She has taken ownership of complex building, health and safety, refurbishment and accessibility tasks, responding calmly and professionally while supporting colleagues across multiple teams. |
| Gemma Henderson | Gemma Henderson is recognised for her care, kindness and support for colleagues across two teams. She consistently goes out of her way to help others and makes a positive difference to team wellbeing. |
| Jessica Smith | Jessica Smith is recognised for continuing to offer thoughtful advice and support to colleagues, despite taking on significant new responsibilities. |
| The finance team, Alison, Adele and Heather | The Finance Team is recognised for consistently going above and beyond to support colleagues with orders, year-end pressures, stocktake and problem-solving. Their responsive, practical help enables teams across the Library to work effectively. |
| Library Finance Team - Alison, Adele and Heather | The Library Finance Team is recognised for their vital behind-the-scenes support, managing shop orders, wider Library purchasing, stocktake and year-end work while offering reliable advice and assistance to colleagues. |
| Peter Wadsworth | Peter Wadsworth is recognised for his generous support, knowledge and willingness to help colleagues with any question or issue. He is valued as a reliable, encouraging colleague who helps others learn. |
| Ruth Burns | Ruth Burns is recognised for improving eBook spotlight workflows through monthly ALMA reports and bespoke data processing. Her work has made title selection more manageable, strengthened cross-directorate collaboration and ensured guide content reflects new and requested titles. |
| Special Collections Management Team: Anne Anderton, Steven Hartshorne, Jess Smith, Jeremy Penner | The Special Collections Management Team is recognised for transforming curatorial strategy, improving stewardship frameworks and strengthening collaboration across Special Collections. Their leadership has supported major projects, updated processes and created a positive environment for curatorial staff. |
| Finn Hobin and LEx Spaces Team | Finn Hobin and the Library Experience Spaces Team are recognised for creating the new Spaces Reporting Process. Their proactive work has helped colleagues take ownership of Library spaces and improve the experience for visitors and students. |
| Rylands Heritage Imaging Lab team | The Rylands Heritage Imaging Lab team is recognised for a highly successful move into its new lab while maintaining a busy imaging service. The team has supported research, exhibitions, access initiatives, placements and new technologies with consistently high standards. |
| Martin O'Dwyer | Martin O'Dwyer is recognised for stepping up during a challenging period to support the Digital Support team. He provided guidance, helped resolve issues and contributed positively to team morale while taking on additional responsibilities. |
| Helen Foster | Helen Foster is recognised for exceptional commitment, energy and leadership during a demanding year. She has taken on additional duties, supported and motivated her team and advanced the Library’s open education resources agenda. |
| Clare Liggins | Clare Liggins is recognised for taking a leading role in a complex University research software project. She rapidly developed expertise, produced high-quality policy outputs and balanced demanding project work with sustained coordination of the RDM service. |
| LeX Support for the AIURC (Holly, Kes, Manu, Charlie G, Thomas, Charlie N, Phoebe, Lola and David) | The Library Experience support team for the AIURC is recognised for invaluable support across projects including collection audits and box-listing the Manchester BME collection. Their hard work has made a significant contribution to colleagues’ progress. |
| Donna Sherman | Donna Sherman is recognised for her values-led collaboration with the RACE Centre and commitment to equity and access. She actively builds meaningful partnerships, advocates for colleagues’ work and ensures inclusive input into Special Collections activity. |
| Janette Martin | Janette Martin is recognised for being a steady and supportive presence during a difficult period. |
| Amber Greaves | Amber Greaves is recognised for keeping imaging orders running smoothly through strong organisation, flexibility and customer care. She supports both customers and photographers with practical help and a consistently accommodating approach. |
| Harry Eyre and Tia Harriott | Harry Eyre and Tia Harriott are recognised for their pivotal role in marking the 80th anniversary of the 5th Pan African Congress. Their hard work supported major city-wide partnerships and engaging Library activity. |
| Christine Sweet | Christine Sweet is recognised for creating a positive and inclusive team environment. She provides clear guidance, encouragement and practical support, helping colleagues grow in confidence and maintain strong performance during challenging periods. |
| Clare Liggins | Clare Liggins is recognised for her outstanding contribution to the Research Software Policy Project. She addressed complex technical, legal and practical issues, delivered a comprehensive draft policy and balanced this work with significant RDM service pressures. |
| Tia Harriot and Harry Eyre | Tia Harriott and Harry Eyre are recognised for supporting the Pan African Congress 80th anniversary programme. They handled increased collection and information requests brilliantly, enabling the team to deliver engaging and inspiring anniversary activity. |
| Dom Marsh, Rebecca Winstanley, Tom Kenny, Kirsty Phalp and Stephanie Dyson | Dom Marsh, Rebecca Winstanley, Tom Kenny, Kirsty Phalp and Stephanie Dyson are recognised for their response to flooding at the John Rylands Library. Their coordinated action, practical clean-up work and commitment enabled the building to reopen the next day. |
| Mark Elson | Mark Elson is recognised for his strategic support of the Library’s AI agenda and AIIA project portfolio. He helps translate complex discussions into clear decisions, tangible outcomes and structured approaches for colleagues. |
| Clare Liggins | Clare Liggins is recognised for consistently supporting colleagues’ professional development. She identifies opportunities, encourages reflection, makes time for guidance and helps others build confidence in new skills and knowledge. |
| Natalie Patton | Natalie Patton is recognised for calm, supportive leadership as Library Experience Manager. She maintained services through disruption, prioritised students and colleagues and brought reliability, thoughtfulness and a positive attitude to a demanding role. |
| Reader Services Team | The Reader Services Team is recognised for maintaining access to Special Collections during the Main Library closure. The team created new workflows, coordinated safely with colleagues and ensured readers experienced no interruption to service. |
| Mark Elson | Mark Elson is recognised for his clear, constructive support on cross-team digital initiatives including Re:Collect and the Library AI Hub. His business analysis expertise, diplomacy and generosity have strengthened requirements, stakeholder engagement and project progress. |
| Janette Watson | Janette Watson is recognised for outstanding communications support for the Re:Collect Project. She produced a comprehensive plan at short notice, built visibility with key colleagues and shaped clear, accessible messaging for usability workshops. |
| Jocelyn Wright | Jocelyn Wright is recognised for exceptional work on the Windows 11 upgrade project. Her persistence, expertise, creativity and good humour helped deliver a complex piece of work essential to the digital Library workforce. |
| The Library Experience Team | The Library Experience Team is recognised for an exceptional start-of-year welcome. The team supported thousands of students, ID card collections, tours, immigration queries and enquiries with professionalism, warmth and a strong commitment to positive student experience. |
| Mark Elson | Mark Elson is recognised for bringing calmness, clarity and organisational skill to every project. His attention to detail, good humour and steady support make him a highly valued asset to the Library. |
| Amber Greaves | Amber Greaves is recognised for her vital work supporting complex customer requests. She patiently interprets unclear orders, navigates varied cataloguing systems and helps customers progress imaging requests with professionalism, persistence and care. |
| Lisa Risbec | Lisa Risbec is recognised for her reliable behind-the-scenes support for complex Imaging Service orders. She interprets unclear requests, assesses collection items, coordinates follow-up work and helps keep customer orders moving smoothly. |
| Finn Hobin | Finn Hobin is recognised for her consistently proactive and effective support with Main Library space, building and estates issues. Her work makes colleagues’ roles easier and improves Library spaces. |
| Jane Bailey | Jane Bailey is recognised for sustaining and improving business data teaching support despite operational pressures. She has enhanced Bloomberg teaching, collaborated with academics and students and increased student completion of BMC opportunities. |
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
| Jocelyn Wright | Jocelyn Wright is recognised for developing an AI chat agent that guides users to the correct support request form. Her practical, user-focused innovation improves routing, reduces delays and protects team capacity. |
| The Muriel Stott project team: Isabel Sebastian, Natalie Patton, Finn Hobin, Ria Sunga/Hannah Goodwin and Chris Higginbottom | The Muriel Stott project team is recognised for its dedication, patience and expertise throughout a long and complex project. Their sustained commitment has delivered a final outcome of which colleagues can be proud. |
| Liam Sullivan, Christine Sweet, Beth O'Donoghue or Wing Sze Cheng | Liam Sullivan, Christine Sweet, Beth O'Donoghue and Wing Sze Cheng are recognised for developing AI Knowledge Exchange sessions. Their work supports colleagues to learn collaboratively and explore practical AI use at work. |
| DSI AI sessions | The DSI AI sessions team is recognised for making AI learning interactive, inclusive and collaborative. Their creative approach brings together diverse expertise and helps colleagues engage confidently with AI. |
| Fariha Agha and Georgia Gray | Fariha Agha and Georgia Gray are recognised for creative and proactive planning of social media content. They developed strong ideas, coordinated student creators and delivered engaging content showcasing Library services and collections. |
| Jo Castle | Jo Castle is recognised for using self-taught 3D animation techniques to improve access to Special Collections. Her innovative work has supported exhibitions, difficult-to-digitise items and international sharing of imaging practice. |
| Tristan Martin | Tristan Martin is recognised for creatively advancing Research Data Stewardship despite resourcing constraints. By launching Research Data Conversations and engaging with sector networks, he has built community, sustained momentum and raised Manchester’s profile. |
| Jo Castle | Jo Castle is recognised for a highly creative approach to imaging, continually developing new ideas and methods for presenting difficult-to-digitise collection items. |
| Tristan Martin | Tristan Martin is recognised for keeping research data stewardship moving despite institutional barriers. His Research Data Conversations series and external engagement have built community, sustained strategic momentum and positioned the University strongly for future development. |
| Chris Wilson | Chris Wilson is recognised for transforming a development request into a reusable AI-enabled web component for digital exhibitions. His creative work has supported research funding, wider institutional benefit and the Library’s reputation for technology innovation. |
| Ricci Liu | Ricci Liu is recognised for delivering Cantonese building tours for International Mother Language Day. By adapting content, using community networks and highlighting Chinese collections, he welcomed new audiences and strengthened community engagement. |
| Projects and business analysis | The Projects and Business Analysis team is recognised for bringing creative leadership to Library projects. Their user-focused, agile approach has reframed strategic review work, supported colleagues and encouraged new ways of delivering projects. |
| WIng Sze Cheng | Wing Sze Cheng is recognised for innovative use of data analysis and visualisation. Her Power BI dashboard and usability data analysis have clarified digital collections evidence, reduced manual reporting and supported better decision-making. |
| Bethany O'Donoghue | Bethany O'Donoghue is recognised for applying data apprenticeship skills to deliver practical service improvements. She developed automation, dashboards, guidance and training that strengthened e-resource monitoring, usage analysis and colleagues’ data capability. |
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
| Flora Bourne | Flora Bourne is recognised for exceptional dedication during significant change in Teaching Collections. She supports colleagues generously, takes on new responsibilities with compassion and helps ensure day-to-day operations, projects and line management are delivered with care. |
| Esther Miller and Fay Proctor | Esther Miller and Fay Proctor are recognised for their sustained commitment as Unison representatives. They have increased membership, strengthened engagement and supported effective communication across the Library community alongside their regular roles. |
| Chris Gibson | Chris Gibson is recognised for shaping Research Data Management and Data Management Planning practice at Manchester and beyond. His collegiate leadership helped build services from the ground up and set standards followed across the sector. |
| Berrisford Edwards | Berrisford Edwards is recognised for regularly volunteering at a local foodbank alongside his work commitments. His quiet, sustained contribution to the community reflects the University’s values of social responsibility and philanthropy. |
| James Robinson | James Robinson is recognised for transforming his team during a challenging period. He has encouraged collaboration, innovation and outward-facing partnerships, raising the profile of imaging work and strengthening research support. |
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
| Helen Foster | Helen Foster is recognised for championing sustainability across the Library. Through initiatives including sustainable travel, plastic-wrapper recycling and gift swaps, she has raised awareness and encouraged colleagues and students to make more environmentally conscious choices. |
| Holly Staniforth | Holly Staniforth is recognised for her outstanding contribution to the Library’s collaboration with Pinc College. She supported neurodivergent students from project initiation to final exhibition and helped deliver an excellent partnership experience. |
| Holly Staniforth | Holly Staniforth is recognised for delivering creative workshops with Pinc College that broaden access to Special Collections and help groups who may not usually feel comfortable engage with the Library. |
| Bill Ayres, along with non-Library colleagues Matt McGill and Caroline Martin | Bill Ayres, Matt McGill and Caroline Martin are recognised for the B15/Figshare digitisation project. By making architectural models openly accessible and creating reusable protocols, the project supports equitable research access and wider sector impact. |
| Project team for the RLP B.15 Modelmaking Workshop & Figshare Collection project (Bill Ayres, Matt McGill, Caroline Martin) | The RLP B.15 Modelmaking Workshop and Figshare Collection project team is recognised for digitising over 250 architectural models and metadata. Their collaborative work has removed access barriers and produced reusable protocols for similar collections. |
| Zsófi Buda | Zsófi Buda is recognised for welcoming faith groups to engage with culturally and religiously significant collections. Her thoughtful facilitation supports dialogue, meaningful access and lasting community relationships. |
| Holly Staniforth | Holly Staniforth is recognised for supporting Pinc College Manchester students through socially responsible engagement. Her work broadens access, provides inspiration and supports students who are often overlooked. |
| Tony Richards | Tony Richards is recognised for supporting Pinc College Manchester students through socially responsible engagement. This work broadens access, provides inspiration and helps students with significant potential engage with the Library. |
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
| Laura Earnshaw-Jones | Laura Earnshaw-Jones is recognised for promoting wellbeing within the Library. Her work highlights awareness days, wellbeing events and collections content, supporting a positive and cohesive organisational culture. |
| Esther Miller | Esther Miller is recognised for her commitment to hearing-impaired accessibility. Through advanced BSL learning, a Library sign-language practice group and advocacy across Directorates, she has strengthened inclusive practice and community awareness. |
| Abi Harrison-Henshall, Amin Hussain, and Padma Inala | Abi Harrison-Henshall, Amin Hussain and Padma Inala are recognised for improving inclusive recruitment practice through the Library’s Inclusive Recruitment Toolkit. Their work has supported a positive shift towards more equitable hiring, development and retention. |
| Abigail Harrison-Henshall, Bean Sharp, Padma Inala | Abigail Harrison-Henshall, Bean Sharp and Padma Inala are recognised for their sustained work on the Inclusive Recruitment Toolkit. They combined research, stakeholder engagement and technical expertise to create an accessible resource supporting fairer recruitment practice. |
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
| Donna Sherman | Donna Sherman is recognised for major scholarship in cartography, mapping and countermapping. She builds sector partnerships, supports community-led work and shares her expertise generously across collections, research and public engagement. |
| Rylands Heritage Imaging Lab team | The Rylands Heritage Imaging Lab team is recognised for its contribution to the Bulletin of the John Rylands Library special edition. Team members contributed to seven articles, supporting a significant open access scholarly publication. |
| Sarah Kneen and Elizabeth Kavanagh-Warnock | Sarah Kneen and Elizabeth Kavanagh-Warnock are recognised for sustaining the Open Research Digest as a trusted monthly publication. Their careful editorial work reaches engaged readers across the University, nationally and internationally. |
| Sarah Kneen, Liz Warnock, Lucy May | Sarah Kneen, Liz Warnock and Lucy May are recognised for developing an effective workflow for the Open Research Digest. Their coordination ensures content is commissioned, edited and published consistently for a global readership. |
| Janette Martin | Janette Martin is recognised for coordinating content for the Rylands 125 Open Night. Her work showcased collections, research, conservation and imaging, creating valuable connections with academics and students across the University. |
| Gail Millin-Chalabi | Gail Millin-Chalabi is recognised for completing the AI for Business Value apprenticeship with distinction while aligning her projects to Library objectives. Her work is informing future teaching use of the Historic Map Collection. |
| Rylands Heritage Imaging Lab | The Rylands Heritage Imaging Lab is recognised for the Imaging Special Edition of the Bulletin of the John Rylands Library. The publication showcases technical expertise, interdisciplinary research and the Lab’s contribution to heritage science and digital scholarship. |
| Donna Sherman | Donna Sherman is recognised for scholarship in mapping, digital humanities and inclusive practice. She supports sector collaboration, AI-enabled GIS work, Sunderland Collection engagement and inclusive cataloguing activity across the Library and wider professional networks. |
| Rylands Heritage Imaging Lab | The Rylands Heritage Imaging Lab is recognised for demonstrating, through the John Rylands Library Bulletin special edition, the breadth of its impact on research across multiple fields. |
| The Lives and Literacy Team | The Lives and Literacy Team is recognised for outstanding scholarship through the Lives and Literacy in Ancient Egypt exhibition and major Manchester University Press monograph. Their work brings the Library’s Egyptian collections to international audiences while advancing academic knowledge and strengthening the Library’s reputation for ancient manuscript and documentary collections. |
7. Outstanding Newcomer Award
For the individual member of staff who has joined the Library in the last year and made an outstanding initial contribution either on a particular project or by visibly embracing our University’s core values.
Nominations
| Matous Tomka | Matous Tomka is recognised for his outstanding contribution to the Building Care Team at the John Rylands Library. He carries out his work to a high standard and shows genuine care for the building and his role. |
| Hannah Goodwin | Hannah Goodwin is recognised for making an outstanding early contribution as Engagement Manager. She quickly developed strong Library knowledge and led a complex communications campaign for Lives and Literacy in Ancient Egypt with confidence and creativity. |
| Antonia Canal | Antonia Canal is recognised for a thoughtful and sensitive approach to collections engagement at the RACE Centre. Her work with academic and community partners, safety in engagement and freelancer equity models reflects University values. |
| Gail Millin-Chalabi | Gail Millin-Chalabi is recognised for her significant early impact through the Re:Collect programme. She has developed an ambitious, collaborative portfolio of work that will inform future systems, processes and digital collections environments. |
| Antonia Canal | Antonia Canal is recognised for quickly settling into her Collections Engagement Officer role and building strong understanding of RACE Centre, Library and University priorities. She is leading valuable engagement work with Mix-d. |
| Gail Millin-Chalabi | Gail Millin-Chalabi is recognised for her dynamic leadership since joining the Library. She has strengthened the Digital Reach team, advanced the complex Re:Collect project and modelled University values through collaborative, people-centred work. |
| Theo Abbott | Theo Abbott is recognised for making a strong early impact as a TLS Administrator. He has learned complex systems quickly, suggested practical improvements and become a reliable, supportive presence in the team. |
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
| Liam Sullivan, Christine Sweet, Bethany O'Donoghue, Wing Sze Cheng | Liam Sullivan, Christine Sweet, Bethany O'Donoghue and Wing Sze Cheng are recognised for establishing AI Knowledge Exchange drop-ins. Their responsive, partnership-led approach has created an open space for shared learning and practical AI discussion. |
| Library Student Team | The Library Student Team is recognised for partnering with the Library on student use of GenAI for learning. Their input has shaped workshops, guides, frontline support and wider staff understanding of student needs. |
Recipients for the following award categories will be 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.