UK Research Reserve: a sustainable model from print to E?

Abstract

PurposeThis paper aims to provide a case study of the development of UK Research Reserve (UKRR): a partnership between the UK higher education sector and the British Library. The first of its kind in the UK as well as internationally, UK Research Reserve has helped its members de‐duplicate low‐use journals and release shelf space, as well as retain access to research material. UKRR is currently under review to determine a sustainable model if public funding becomes unavailable. This paper describes the journey UKRR has taken so far.Design/methodology/approachResearch methods adopted can be categorised into two main groups of activities: information gathering (desk research, survey and interviews); and information analysis and synthesis (literature, data, documentation).FindingsThrough the case study of UKRR, the author identifies challenges and issues faced by research libraries, as well as the whole HE sector. This paper presents values and synergies UKRR has created for its members and beyond. It also shares UKRR's journey in identifying a sustainable business model beyond its current phase.Originality/valueThe author reviewed some second‐hand data to present a broader picture of challenges the HE sector is facing. Most data and documentation that support the other sections of the paper are first‐hand, and have been generated by UKRR's team.