Community Partnership

We are a dynamic and people-focused library where our diverse communities come together to co-curate, co-create, and openly share knowledge. This collaborative spirit, built on strong relationships and inclusive environments, develops a greater understanding, insight, and innovation. Ultimately, we aim to be central and inspiring within our whole community, encouraging engagement with our collections and contributions to shared research.

Person typing on laptop computer

Schools and Colleges Research Days

We are proud to support local school and college students studying towards A Level, EPQ, BTEC and International Baccalaureate qualifications by offering Library ‘Research Days’. With guidance from members of the Library Teaching & Engagement team, students visiting for Research Days use our books and online resources to find material on their individual research topics, while our Library Schools Ambassadors offer tours, talks and personal insights into university life. We hope that by visiting the Library and University campus, school and college students not only feel more confident in their academic and research skills but also develop awareness of higher education as a progression route for students from a diverse range of backgrounds.

We have welcomed 16 schools and colleges for Library Research Days in the 2024-5 academic year so far!

Find out more about our work with schools and access useful resources and tutorials on our Schools Libguide

Morecambe Bay Curriculum

The Morecambe Bay Curriculum (MBC) is an inspiring, community-led educational initiative that celebrates sustainability, local pride, and a brighter future. Launched in 2020 by Lancaster University, Lancaster and Morecambe College, and the University of Cumbria—and inspired by Eden Project Morecambe—the MBC empowers young people as confident, capable change-makers, ready to tackle environmental challenges with creativity and passion.

Rooted in the rich natural and cultural heritage of the Morecambe Bay Area, the curriculum turns the local environment into a vibrant, hands-on classroom. Themes such as land, water, air, economy, and community come alive through immersive learning experiences that foster a deep sense of connection, curiosity, and care.

Sustainability is at the heart of the MBC, with a strong focus on environmental stewardship, climate change awareness, and green skills for the future. Lancaster University has worked closely with students and educators to co-create meaningful learning experiences that reflect both academic expertise and lived local knowledge. Collaborative partnerships with researchers, health professionals, and community leaders ensure the curriculum remains dynamic and relevant—responding to the needs and aspirations of the region.

This loanable collection of fiction, non-fiction, and high-quality teaching resources supports inspiring, place-based learning. Through this forward-thinking approach, the MBC equips learners with the knowledge, skills, and values they need to thrive—and to help build a more sustainable, hopeful world.

Library Visits: Building Future Researchers – school visits for EPQ and more: thoughts from a visiting teacher

This episode explores the long-standing impact of our library's outreach to local schools, Andy Holgate chats with Ben Wood, Religious Studies lead at Haslingdon High School, particularly focusing on EPQ and coursework students. Ben has been bringing students from Haslingdon High School to Lancaster University Library for the past eight years.

Partnering with Global Link

In 2022 Lancaster University partnered with Global Link and community members to create a collection of ESOL Books that can be borrowed by the local Refugee/Asylum Seeker (RAS) community using Community card membership of Lancaster University Library. Campus visits were organised and we welcomed our first community group to the Library in September 2022.

Building on this partnership with Global Link, we partnered with the University of Cumbria library, sharing our resources, enabling them to mirror our collection and offer to the RAS community. The next logical step was speaking to LCC libraries, especially Central Library in Lancaster joining up the dots so to speak. We now have a cohesive library offer to the RAS community, offering safe/warm spaces and resources to help with English language learning. View Information on the collections and offers to the RAS community.

Quote from Eleanor Denvir (ESOL co-ordinator at Global Link)

“Writing this was a bit tricky, because we could actually write a book about the work we've done together- No sound-bite could do justice to the collaboration we've achieved over these 3 years.

Over the past Lancaster University Library team members have made consistent efforts to make and build contacts with the refugee and asylum seeker community in Lancaster and Morecambe. They have arranged visits to campus and the library, and have worked to find out what types of engagement would help individuals from the community to develop their expectations and concepts of living in the UK and to expand their possibilities within the education system. These visits have been inspiring for the attendees, who realise they have access to the excellent facilities, and have been able to join the library with community membership. A few people living closer to the university, or those with easy transport access, make use of the library for their personal study.

The library team also developed a sanctuary collection, first asking for requests or recommendations from teachers in our City of Sanctuary ESOL project, then, once the books were bought, replicating the collection at The University of Cumbria Library, at Global Link, and at Lancaster City library. They have continued to be open to requests for books from the students and teachers in the City of Sanctuary ESOL project. The City Library collection is particularly well-used, as many of our one to one teachers use spaces in the library for their classes.”

Community Engagement

Beyond providing resources, the Library is a key supporter of the Public Lecture series at Lancaster University, actively participating through our library information stand at these events. Our continuous involvement has allowed us to engage directly with numerous attendees of the community, developing valuable conversations and introducing initiatives like our enhanced community membership, which now includes 'walk-in user access'.

Our dedication to community partnerships extends to events like Campus in the City, where during the event weekend in 2025 our interactive Humphry Davy project reached over 300 adults, young people and children. Furthermore, in 2024, we proudly showcased a student-partnered community research project exploring the heritage of the British jukebox. These initiatives highlight the Library's proactive role in enriching community learning and engagement.

“Partnering with the library on community engagement events and projects has helped bring to life the Public Lecture series with showcases of collections and resources designed to be relevant to each lecture. The library also has a central role at Campus in the City, giving families the opportunity to take part in hands-on activities to explore the library collections in new and accessible ways. The joy of working with the library is that every project and event is approached with interest and enthusiasm to create something new, design bespoke experiences and make sure our engagement work is built around the needs and interests of the communities we are engaging with”.

Quote from Bethan Marriot and Jess Shaw – Public Engagement Team

Humphry Davy Colouring Wall - Campus in the City 2025

“[Library staff] were outstanding in their enthusiasm and helpfulness”

A quote from St Mary’s Catholic Academy Blackpool, March 2025