The Library Advisory Group at the University of Essex: Working in Partnership with Students to Shape Services

Abstract This article discusses the formation and development of the Library Advisory Group at the University of Essex, exploring the benefits of this as a vehicle for service enhancement and culture change within the library and the wider institution. It begins with a literature review discussing the use of participatory research, collaborative design and ‘UX’ methods in libraries, and their appropriateness both for generating meaningful improvements and towards community building. This is followed by a case study, detailing the philosophy behind the formation of the Group, and its use for space planning and service evaluation, as well as its role in fostering a sense of learning community. Consideration is then given to the limitations of the Group in achieving these aims, and next steps towards refining this approach towards user engagement and partnership working are discussed.