Digital Service Innovation
Digital Services Innovation focuses on the support of our systems, services and the support of people; library staff and the many users of our digital library services, technologies and spaces. Colleagues across the Digital Systems and Digital Support Services sub-teams work closely and collaboratively to support these goals.
Head of Digital Service Innovation
As Head of Digital Service Innovation at The University of Manchester Library, I lead the development of innovative digital services and systems to enhance research and learning. My role focuses on strategic leadership, collaboration, and continuous improvement, ensuring our digital services and systems support the University's goals and meet the evolving needs of our diverse community.
Library Systems Team
About the Library Systems Team
Library Search allows you to search for and access resources (articles, books, journals, images etc.) held by or subscribed to by The University of Manchester Library. It pulls together many of the Library’s systems and allows you to search across them simultaneously.
Reading Lists Online allows you to view reading lists for your courses and links directly to online and print resources held or subscribed to by the Library. Reading lists on Reading Lists Online can be accessed directly via your courses in Blackboard.
Locate A Book is an interactive map to help you find books at Main Library. If you are searching for a book which is held at Main Library, click the ‘Locate This Book’ option on the Library Search result to view the exact floor and shelf location.
Library accounts can be managed online via MyManchester or Library Search. You can check and renew loans, view and cancel requests, and pay any library fines via your online library account.
Once a library account has been created in our library management system, your university ID card will then allow you to access the library buildings via the access gates and to borrow books using our self-service machines. Library accounts are created and updated based on data sent through to the library from central university systems, meaning there can sometimes be delays in information being updated.
Alma is the library management system used at Manchester. It holds data of all our resources (both print and electronic), online reading lists, user accounts, loans and requests and is used to deliver many of the library’s services such as ordering resources and making them available via Library Search, processing requests (including inter-library loan requests), creating loans, sending email notifications, managing our stock, and much more.
Systems Support Analyst (Library Systems)
To support the service in implementing, maintaining and developing Alma and associated systems to provide high quality and user focused services. To provide management information and statistics to support the strategic and operational requirements of Library managers and staff. To line manage the Systems Assistant and ensure their skills meet the changing requirements of the role.
Systems Assistant
Supporting the System Support Analyst and Library Systems Manager in maintaining and developing its library systems, whilst providing a high quality and user focused service.
eResources Team
About the eResources Team
We ensure seamless access to the Library’s electronic resources, including journals, databases, and e-books, for students, staff, alumni, and community members. Our team provides front-line technical support and offers guidance on e-resource access issues.
We manage our e-resources access mechanisms, EZproxy and Shibboleth. We collaborate with publishers to handle technical aspects of subscription activation, including IP registration and access troubleshooting. Additionally, we maintain the Databases A-Z for easy resource discovery.
Our responsibilities also include managing our access broker tools, Lean Library Access and LibKey Nomad, and investigating suspicious usage incidents in collaboration with IT Services. We oversee the EZproxy Analytics service, which provides detailed usage data for our e-resources.
For assistance, contact us at uml.eresources@manchester.ac.uk or use the "Report a Problem" button available under each electronic resource in Library Search.
Systems Support Analyst (eResources)
Co-ordinating and delivering a user-focused electronic resources technical support service and managing the team of Systems Assistants (eResources). Responsible for ensuring the full exploitation of the Library’s electronic resources by effective management of their delivery and maximisation of on-site and remote access.
Systems Assistant (eResources)
Providing technical support to students, academics and the public in accessing the Library’s electronic resources through enquiries, and supporting the Systems Support Analyst (eResources) in providing access to the Library’s electronic resources.
Digital Preservation and Systems Team
About the Digital Preservation and Systems Team
- We are responsible for digital preservation in the library providing advice and practical help with obsolete media, hardware, and formats
- We manage projects involving bulk digitisation of requested items ranging from Methodist newspapers to notebooks and photographic negatives
- We are responsible for the library's Digital Collection (online on LunaImaging software)
- We are responsible for the library's Special Collections online catalogue (on the Archives Hub), and their Collection Management software (Emu)
- We are based at the Main Library and can be contacted via uml-digitisation@manchester.ac.uk
System Support Analyst (Digitisation)
Ensuring the long-term safety of our digital archives by co-ordinating and delivering the Library’s digital preservation service. Implementing, maintaining and developing the Library’s digital image service Luna; its digital preservation system Preservica; its collections management system EMu. Supporting ELGAR the Library's online archive catalogue. Undertaking digitisation projects as required. Line managing the System Support Assistant (Digitisation) and ensuring their skills meet the changing requirements of the role.
System Support Assistant (Digitisation)
Supporting the Library’s digital preservation service; helping to maintain Luna; Preservica; ELGAR and EMu. Undertaking digitisation projects as required. Supporting the Digitisation Analyst. Providing technical support to staff and researchers.
Digital Support Services
About the Digital Support Services team
Team
- We were previously split into two teams (Student & Staff support) but are now one team as Digital Support Services. We are generally based at Main Library and AGLC but can work at and support any Library site.
Services
- We provide digital support to Library staff and large numbers of students and researchers from across the University. We are a key provider of in-person digital support on campus and this means providing help and guidance on connecting to University systems, software support, practical digital skills, support for Library digital technologies and a wide range of staff and student devices.
Technology Support
- We provide support for library specific technology such as gate entry systems, self-service issue machines, book sorter, ILL collection locker, Library search PCs, staff and student laptop loans, digital signage and any other equipment required to run bespoke library services. We are responsible for managing the relationships with any 3rd party suppliers of those services.
- We are responsible for supporting and maintaining equipment in Library spaces such as staff offices; staff meeting rooms; student group study rooms; teaching rooms and student PC clusters.
Projects
- We work on projects that aim to continually improve the digital library user experience and often work with directorates outside of the Library, such as IT Services and Estates, to support their key activities.
Digital Support Services Manager
Manages the Digital Support Services team in the delivery of a customer focused digital IT and technology support service. Responsible for the management and development of a number of Library digital services across all Library sites. Contributes to key Library and strategic projects and working to promote our services across the University. Line management responsibility for Digital Support Analysts and Student Digital Support Co-ordinator.
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Martin O'Dwyer
Email: martin.o'dwyer@manchester.ac.uk
Telephone: x7759809 (Internal) 07876 847303 (External)
Digital Support Analyst
Second line digital support service for staff within Library sites. Hardware and software support for Library digital services such as book issue/return systems, device support & maintenance, device loans, Telecoms and office moves. Audio-visual support for training rooms and meeting rooms. Setting up and maintaining Library digital equipment.
Student Digital Support Co-ordinator
Responsible for efficient delivery and the ongoing development of a frontline, customer service focused digital IT and technology support service. Coordinating the operational activities, including line management responsibility, of the Digital Support Assistants and a range of customer foucused digital Library technologies and services.
Student Digital Support Assistant
Digital support service for students and researchers; resolving customer enquiries; support for personal mobile devices. Hardware and software support for Library digital services such as PC clusters, device loans, group study rooms, accessibility rooms and training rooms. First-line support for audio-visual technologies in student spaces. Setting up and maintaining Library digital equipment.
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Michael Walsh
