Library Champions
Previous projects
2025-2026
Exploring Use of Study Spaces in the David Wilson Library
Help us understand how students choose and use study spaces in the Library. Through a series of user experience activities, you'll explore what influences students' preferences and identify opportunities to improve Library spaces for future learners.
AI Study Buddy GPT
Test a custom AI study assistant based on the University of Leicester Study Skills resources. Compare it with other AI tools, explore its strengths and limitations, and help shape the future of AI-supported study at Leicester.
Reading Lists Reinvented
How do students really use reading lists? Explore how students engage with prescribed reading and generate ideas to make reading lists more useful, accessible and engaging. Your insights will help inform future Library guidance and support.
AI for Research: Student Tips and Insights for Smarter Study Tools
Explore how students use AI within library research tools and compare these features with general AI assistants. Working with Library staff, you'll help develop practical guidance to support students making effective use of AI for study and research.
2024-2025
Support the development of AI resources
Be a part of shaping the future of AI learning at our university. The Centre for Academic Achievement is supporting the university’s new AI policy by creating resources to help students develop their AI literacy. Help review these resources, share your thoughts and suggest improvements. Your feedback will directly influence the AI Student Literacy project and help us create better tools for future students.
Enhancing access to Special Collections with AI
Discover how AI is transforming access to our Special Collections. In this project, we’re testing two AI tools, Transkribus and Claude, to automatically transcribe historic manuscripts from our collections. If these tools prove effective, their transcriptions will be added to Special Collections Online, making our rare and valuable resources easier to search, explore, and use.
Addressing sensitive content in library collections
Make a meaningful impact by reviewing how the library handles materials with harmful or offensive language or content. Provide feedback and help create materials to raise awareness about such content and the library's response strategies. Your contributions could also be featured in conference presentations, allowing you to share insights with the academic community.
Developing LinkedIn content for Research Services
Help us expand our reach by sharing our work with a wider audience. Team up with the Library Research Services group to create dynamic and engaging content for the Research Services LinkedIn page. This is your chance to enhance our online presence and highlight the exciting projects happening within our team.
2023-2024
Developing the new leisure reading space
The leisure reading collection was relocated to a new space on the ground floor, now known as The Reading Lounge. Library Champions played a crucial role in this transformation by devising and running a UX project that rebranded the space with a new name and signage. The Reading Lounge was widely promoted through a successful social media campaign, thanks to their efforts.
Library Search Evaluation
This project sought to assess students' interactions with the library's resource discovery platform. Volunteers engaged in various questionnaires and activities, providing valuable insights into their user experiences. Their feedback facilitated improvements in the platform's usability and effectiveness.
Enhance our University Archives
Library Champions had the opportunity to delve into the University’s history and enhance their communication skills through our Archives & Special Collections project. Volunteers conducted short interviews with University students to add to our Archives. This year’s theme was Clubs and Societies, with a focus on the 1970s-1980s archives for inspiration. Through this project, Library Champions contributed to preserving the University’s history while gaining valuable experience.
Digital introductions to the library for new students
Library Champions contributed to understanding the effectiveness of digital objects produced by library services, such as videos and online presentations, designed to support new students at the University of Leicester. Volunteers evaluated existing digital objects and participated in focus groups to provide valuable insights. Their contributions played a key role in the development of new digital support resources tailored to meet the needs of students new to the university.
Library Champions is a wonderful community that brings everyone together and raises social awareness. It creates fun, unique projects that not only helps the students but also enhances several key skills which is needed in their future careers.