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← Rluk (Research Libraries UK)

2025-07-31-accounts

Company no. 02733294 Charity no. 1026543

RLUK (Research Libraries UK) Report and Audited Financial Statements 31 July 2025

RLUK (Research Libraries UK)

Reference and administrative details

Reference and administrative details Reference and administrative details
For theyear ended 31 July 2025
Company number 02733294
Charity number 1026543
Registered office and Room 257
operational address Senate House
Malet Street
London
WC1E 7HU
Trustees Trustees, who are also directors under company law, who served during
the year and up to the date of this report were as follows:
C Banks Resigned 14 February 2025
C Cannon Appointed 19 March 2025
C Cipkin Appointed 19 March 2025
D Cutress Resigned 19 March 2025
C Eagleton
C Price
E Fay Treasurer (from 19 March 2025)
J Anthony-Edwards Appointed 19 March 2025
J Harvell Chair (from 19 March 2025)
J Taylor-Roe Treasurer (resigned 19 March 2025)
J Upton
K Lingstadt
M Khokhar Chair (resigned 19 March 2025)
T Stanley Resigned 19 March 2025
W White Appointed 19 March 2025
Chief executive officer D Prosser
and company secretary
Staff W Nixon, Deputy Executive Director
C Kamposiori, Executive Programme Officer
M Cheung, Executive Assistant
Bankers National Westminster Bank plc
8 Park Row
Leeds
LS1 1QS
Solicitors Veale Wasbrough Vizards
Second Floor
3 Brindley Place
Birmingham
B1 2JB
Auditors Godfrey Wilson Limited
Chartered accountants and statutory auditors
5th Floor Mariner House
62 Prince Street
Bristol
BS1 4QD

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RLUK (Research Libraries UK)

Report of the Trustees

For the year ended 31 July 2025

The Trustees of Research Libraries UK (RLUK) present their annual report together with the financial statements for 1 August 2024 to 31 July 2025.

Since the company qualifies as ‘small’ under section 383, the strategic report required of medium and large companies under The Companies Act 2006 (Strategic Report and Director's Report) Regulations 2013 is not required.

Reference and administrative information set out on page 15 form part of this report. The financial statements comply with current statutory requirements, the Memorandum and Articles of Association and the Statement of Recommended Practice - Accounting and Reporting by Charities (effective from January 2019).

Structure, Governance and Management

a. Constitution

RLUK is a company limited by guarantee and a registered charity governed by its Memorandum and Articles of Association of 21 July 1992, revised 15 January 2016. Charity number: 1026543. Company number: 2733294.

b. Our purpose

Our main objective is to work with our members and with our partners, nationally and internationally, to shape and to realise the vision of the modern research library. Our principal aim is that the UK should have the best research library support in the world.

c. Membership

RLUK is a membership consortium consisting of the following 39 major research institutions:

University of Aberdeen University of Birmingham University of Bristol British Library University of Cambridge Cardiff University Durham University University of East Anglia University of Edinburgh University of Exeter University of Glasgow Imperial College London King's College London Lancaster University University of Leeds University of Leicester University of Liverpool University of London London School of Economics and Political Science University of Manchester National Library of Scotland National Library of Wales Newcastle University University of Nottingham Queen Mary University of London Queen’s University Belfast Royal Holloway, University of London SOAS University of London

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RLUK (Research Libraries UK)

Report of the Trustees

For the year ended 31 July 2025

University College London University of Oxford University of Reading University of Sheffield University of Southampton University of Sussex University of St Andrews Trinity College Dublin University of Warwick Wellcome Trust University of York

d. Recruitment and appointment of new trustees

Members have the right to nominate a RLUK Member Representative, usually the directors of their institutions’ library services. All Member Representatives have full voting rights.

The Board of Trustees (known as the Board of Directors) consists of up to 12 members and is elected from among the RLUK Member Representatives. The Vice-Chair is included within this number and is also elected by the members. Following a two-year period as Vice-Chair (or on the resignation of the Chair) the Vice-Chair takes the position of Chair for a period of two years. This ensures that the direction and activities of the consortium are guided by highly experienced members of the profession who share an understanding of the purpose and needs of the consortium and its members.

The period of office for Trustees is three years, with the possibility of re-election for a second consecutive three-year period. Once a Trustee stands down from the Board an interval of three years must pass before they may reapply to serve on the Board again. Appointment is by an electronic vote ahead of the Annual General Meeting.

The Board meets at least three times a year. One meeting, normally held in May, has a clear focus on longer-term strategy where the strategic plan is reviewed and evolving environmental factors are assessed.

There is a Members’ Meeting, usually held in November, and a large-scale, international conference in March, which also incorporates the Annual General Meeting (AGM).

Trustees may chair or otherwise participate in the activities of one or more of RLUK’s Working Groups, depending on their area of interest and expertise. They may also represent RLUK’s interests with other organisations as members of committees and other groups, and through membership of relevant Project Boards, reporting to the RLUK Board where appropriate on matters relevant to RLUK.

e. Policies adopted for the induction and training of Trustees

On election, new Trustees receive information about the legal and governance requirements placed on them as Trustees and on RLUK itself. On appointment, new Trustees also meet with the Chair and Executive Director, who outline what is expected of an RLUK Trustee. The Executive attend training courses in charity law and review charity sector literature, in order to be able to refresh the Board’s understanding and knowledge of regulatory, legal and environmental trends. We are also advised of relevant changes to statutory governance and financial regulations by our auditors.

f. Organisational structure

Governance of RLUK is carried out by the Board of Trustees (known as Directors) with the support of a central Executive of four members of staff, who are responsible for day-to-day administration. Financial services are provided by Dains LLP on a contract basis.

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RLUK (Research Libraries UK)

Report of the Trustees

For the year ended 31 July 2025

g. Risks

A Risk Register outlining potential risks to the charity is maintained by the Executive and is reviewed regularly throughout the year by the Board. Risks include environmental, business, financial and operational factors. Where issues are identified, appropriate means to address them are introduced.

Objectives and Activities

a. Public benefit

The Trustees have taken due regard of the Charity Commission's directives on public benefit, and are satisfied that the work RLUK is undertaking is fulfilling its aims in terms of public good. The public good aspects of RLUK's work are emphasised below in the section on activities. According to the general public benefit aims set out by the Charity Commission, RLUK is active in the areas of the advancement of education and the advancement of the arts, culture, heritage and science.

b. Principal objective and aims

The objectives of RLUK are to maintain, improve and promote library resources and services for research.

We work with our members and with our partners, nationally and internationally, to shape and to realise the vision of the modern research library. We invest in and develop strategic projects, reports and innovations that result in greater engagement with and services for the research community we serve. RLUK also has a role as an influencing and advocacy body.

Our priorities for activities are determined through strategic plans. The current RLUK strategy for 202225 was launched at a virtual Members Meeting held in January 2022 and was developed following a period of engagement with the RLUK membership and other stakeholders. The strategy seeks to drive change, enable dialogue, and promote collaboration across the research, information, and cultural sectors.

The major themes of the strategy are:

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RLUK (Research Libraries UK)

Report of the Trustees

For the year ended 31 July 2025

And three cross-cutting themes, which represent key challenges to RLUK, its members, and wider society, and require us to be bold in our vision and disruptive and transformative in our activities:

Progress against strategic themes is monitored at meetings of the RLUK Board. Activities are implemented through a combination of working and task and finish groups, with membership from the Board, Executive, the broader membership, and, where appropriate, the wider community.

Achievements and performance

libraries X research

RLUK champions the pivotal contribution libraries make to the research process, as enablers, partners and pioneers of research excellence. The roles played by research libraries are continually changing: for their users, within their institutions, and amongst their communities. RLUK works with its members to support and advocate for the diverse roles of the research library as places of experimentation, their role as partners and pioneers in the research process, and as catalysts for change within society and scholarship.

RLUK launched libraries X research in November 2024 which has brought together all our work to champion libraries and their vital contribution to research, including our partnerships with AHRC and The National Archive.

RLUK continued its joint work with AHRC under the Research Engagement Programme (REP) – a series of activities that include the Professional Practice Fellowship Scheme (PPFS) and Research Catalyst Cohort Programme (RCC) – that help support our members and the wider academic and research library community in developing and promoting research capacity, capability, and confidence amongst their staff. To date REP has distributed £425K of grants to institutions supporting 19 PPFS fellows to undertake research projects and £30K for the RCC which has helped 33 colleagues from RLUK and other institutions to develop their knowledge and skills in submitting research funding applications. Three colleagues from the first RCC programme joined the second Fellows scheme.

In May 2025, we celebrated the second round of PPFS research projects with an event in London. Fellows presented their research projects to Library Directors, project mentors, and to colleagues representing the major research funders in the sector: Arcadia, ESRC, Arts Council England, Wellcome Trust, and the Rothschild Foundation.

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RLUK (Research Libraries UK)

Report of the Trustees

For the year ended 31 July 2025

RLUK will continue to take this work forward through our Research Shift Programme (RSP). This provides a space to empower and support librarians, archivists, information professionals, and colleagues across the Galleries, Libraries, Archives, and Museums (GLAM) sector to actively engage in research. The first series of RSP events (April to June 2025) explored the concept of research, overcoming structural barriers, and practical strategies for initiating and sustaining research projects.

Digital Shift

RLUK supports its members to seize the collective opportunities and face the shared challenges that new and emerging technologies and methodologies bring. We do so with an emphasis on openness, inclusivity, and sustainability through the Digital Shift.

Digital Shift Forum

RLUK’s Digital Shift Working Group (DSWG) met throughout the year to discuss the ongoing delivery of the digital shift manifesto’s delivery plan and to begin planning for a fourth series of the Digital Shift Forum. This commenced in October 2024 with a short series on openness and repository infrastructures, exploring the role of repositories in a wider open research ecosystem, opportunities and issues around open infrastructure for research and its implementation in research libraries, and the impact of AI on infrastructure development. The forum also took a broad look at sustainability for libraries: environmental impacts, sustainability of knowledge, and sustainability of our services and systems.

Digital Shift Maturity Survey AI Analysis

In June 2023, the DSWG launched an RLUK-wide survey to establish the level of Digital Shift Maturity across members, related to the shift to digital, the shift within digital, and the equitable shift. In early 2025 the survey was re-analysed using ChatGPT to compare it to the original analysis and to explore the suitability of AI for this work. We wanted to explore these new models and platforms to help gain new insights into work we have already done, and develop expertise and understanding about what can (and can’t be done) with surveys. This work was also done in the spirit of the survey which identified “Engaging with AI as a Transformative Technology” as an area which was recognised as less mature. A revised summary report on Zenodo highlighting key themes and gaps which provides a mix of affirmation of the original analysis in addition to some value added insights.

Cyber-resilience

In today’s interconnected digital research landscape, cyber incidents are now a clear and present risk for libraries (it may not be “if” but “when”). In recent years public libraries, national libraries and universities have all experienced incidents. Cyber-resilience is critical for research libraries which provide access to rich and unique collections, support open scholarship, and provide essential research infrastructure. RLUK is uniquely placed to address this and to convene a Task and Finish Group drawing on experiences from members and in turn supporting its members with practical steps, recommendations and guidance.

The Cyber-resilience Task and Finish Group was launched in October 2024 and over the course of the year the group developed a leadership framework which recognised that cyber-resilience is not just a technical challenge, but a strategic, cultural and organisational one. The framework is based on a fourpart cyber incident lifecycle model of Readiness, Response, Recovery, and Review and each stage will provide practical steps and recommendations to help research libraries be more cyber-resilient.

Scholarly Communications

RLUK works with members and Jisc to deliver sustainable deals with journal publishers that promote efficiency, value-for-money, and equity in terms of access to content and publishing venues. During 2024 and 2025 the HE sector decided on negotiating criteria and engaged with the five largest publishers. As part of our responsibility to convene the membership we have continued to hold monthly virtual town halls. These are a constructive forum for members to discuss ongoing publisher

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RLUK (Research Libraries UK)

Report of the Trustees

For the year ended 31 July 2025

negotiations and issues around future models, including for increased open access content, and to establish collective priorities and concerns.

As a representative body, RLUK participates in a number of national and international committees and working groups moving open scholarship forward, including the Jisc Research Licensing Strategy Group, the Jisc Publisher Negotiations Expert Group and the Jisc Learning Content Expert Group, and is also a member of the Open Research Competencies Coalition (ORCC).

We engage with funding bodies to ensure RLUK members are able to help fulfil open access mandates, including ensuring an effective rights environment to enable openness. RLUK also convenes an Open Access Publisher Process Group (OAPP), which met during the year to discuss issues around publisher workflows.

Recognising our work around open access, David Prosser was invited to Chair the Board of the Directory of Open Access Journals.

Strengthening Inclusive Practice

RLUK members are committed to creating and maintaining inclusive organisations, structures, and spaces which celebrate diversity, welcome difference, and embed positive change. RLUK works with its members, stakeholders, and partners to take actions across our community that challenge structural inequalities and biases in collections, services, and access.

RLUK’s Special Collections and Heritage Network (SCHN) published a position paper in February 2025 on ‘Equity, diversity, and inclusion in the research library: a special and heritage collections perspective’. The paper underlined RLUK’s strong commitment to the values of equity, diversity, and inclusion and presented a set of objectives which will help member libraries and others work towards achieving EDI goals from a special and heritage collections perspective.

RLUK Decolonisation Group

The RLUK Decolonisation Group, consisting of members of the RLUK Special Collections and Heritage Network (SCHN) and the Collections Strategy Network (CSN), as well as other RLUK colleagues with expertise in the area of collection-based decolonisation began meeting in January 2022 to discuss issues of common interest for research libraries in this area. During 2024-2025, the RLUK Decolonisation Group worked to deliver another successful season of the RLUK Inclusive Collections, Inclusive Libraries seminar series as well as identify and begin the development of a new initiative that will support RLUK members in the area of skills development for staff involved in collection-based decolonisation. Its work aims to foster shared understanding, shape strategic direction, and clarify the roles and criteria involved in decolonising collections, ultimately helping research libraries develop more equitable and inclusive approaches to their collections and services.

Inclusive Collections, Inclusive Libraries

The Inclusive Collections, Inclusive Libraries (ICIL) seminar series aim to foster conversation around decolonisation and inclusive practice in collecting, describing, presenting, and engaging with content in research library collections. The seminar series held a number of talks during the year that explored the challenges around decolonisation within libraries as well as a number of issues concerning the development of inclusive and diverse collections. Delegates had the opportunity to hear case studies and talks on the use of digital storytelling and digital platforms for engagement and co-curation with underrepresented groups, on overcoming gender biased language when developing inclusive collections, and the nature of ‘community’ and its role for research libraries and their collections. Over the period 2024-2025, the seminar series attracted over 1,300 registrations from participants across the UK and internationally, including attendees from Europe, Canada, the United States, Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa.

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RLUK (Research Libraries UK)

Report of the Trustees

For the year ended 31 July 2025

Collective Collections

UK Print Book Collection (UK-PBC)

Ensuring the efficient management of print collections has become critical for libraries as pressure on space grows and as access to online resources increases. This has led to strong demand for a collaborative approach to ensure preservation and access for future scholars. Over the past year the Collections Strategy Network put in place the foundations for a national agreement for libraries to work together to retain sufficient print copies across the UK to preserve access to content. This work has been formalised through a partnership with SCONUL, the British Library, and Jisc, to form the UK Distributed Book Collection (UK-PBC).

In March 2025, a Programme Manager, Joanna Little, was appointed to build on the work already undertaken and to move UK PBC to business-as-usual. The scheme was officially launched in October 2025.

Green Libraries

In August 2024, RLUK formally joined the Green Libraries Campaign, which is a UK-wide, cross-sector programme focused on the contribution of librarians, information, and knowledge professionals to the sustainability agenda and increasing awareness of environmental issues for the wider public by providing accessible resources and events.

RLUK members have significant physical and digital estates, both of which offer challenges in moving towards net zero targets. From large library buildings at the heart of university campuses to extensive digital holdings we seek to meet the information needs of users in a sustainable and responsible manner. RLUK is pleased to be working with Green Libraries partners to help support our members and the wider sector around this key issue of sustainability.

Green Libraries Week ran from 7 to 13 October 2024 and was followed by the second Green Libraries Conference at the British Library’s Knowledge Centre on 25 November 2024, for which RLUK contributed to the organising committee.

Partner relationships

British Library

RLUK continues to support the British Library’s Open and Engaged. Conference as part of Open Access Week. Open and Engaged 2024 was entitled Empowering Communities to Thrive in Open Scholarship. The event centred on leveraging the power of communities in the axis of open scholarship, open infrastructure, emerging technologies, collections as data, equity and integrity, skills development and sustainable models to elevate research of all kinds for the public good.

The British Library continues to be a key partner through both work on the green agenda and through activity to support the UK Print Book Collection.

The National Archives (TNA)

RLUK has continued to work closely with TNA on the TNA-RLUK Professional Fellowship Scheme, which facilitates shared learning between TNA and individual RLUK members with the purpose of overcoming some of the collective challenges facing research and cultural organisations. Fellows for the sixth (2025-26) round of the Professional Fellowship scheme were announced in July 2025, with their projects investigating pressing issues around the long-term accessibility and preservation of library and archival content as well as the development of inclusive collections.

Jisc

RLUK has continued to work closely with Jisc, being represented on the the Research Licensing Strategy Group, the Publisher Negotiations Expert Group, Learning Content Expert Group, OA Stakeholders Group, Library Hub Community Advisory Board, Digitisation for Digital Scholarship project working group, and Digital Archival Collections working group.

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RLUK (Research Libraries UK)

Report of the Trustees

For the year ended 31 July 2025

Jisc is a key partner in the delivery of the UK Print Book Collection.

IARLA

We continued to work with international partners under the framework of the International Alliance of Research Library Associations (IARLA). IARLA met throughout the year to discuss the effect of AI on libraries, support for open infrastructure, and EDI issues. The IARLA Virtual Reading Room Working Group also met to focus on issues around the sustainability of VRR and VTS services as well as on international developments in the area.

UK Reproducibility Network (UKRN)

RLUK is an affiliate member of the UK Reproducibility Network (UKRN) and joined their Stakeholder Engagement Group (SEG) in 2024, as the only library organisation in the SEG. RLUK represents its members and provides a voice for Research Libraries in wider discussions with other stakeholders including publishers, researchers and funders on research reproducibility. These have included discussions around how we could collectively enable better research practices and rewards, and where this work and these roles intersect with other parts of the research ecosystem which libraries play a critical role in.

RLUK and the Hidden REF

RLUK is a supporter of the Hidden REF. The hidden REF is challenging preconceptions about which roles are important in research and libraries have many hidden roles. RLUK supported The Hidden REF’s successful proposal to the Research England Development Fund. RLUK also shares the Hidden REF’s belief that we will advance research if we recognise the contribution of everyone involved in the conduct of research. RLUK actively participated in the Hidden REF competition in 2024 as a reviewer. This was a community-driven, national event that raised awareness of NTOs and hidden roles, and provided a platform for understanding them.

Networks

Associate Directors’ Network (ADN)

The RLUK Associate Directors Network is a professional network for RLUK members in a Deputy Librarian or Associate Director role. It aims to provide a forum for discussion and sharing of experience, the opportunity to participate in the business of RLUK and to aid succession planning. Co-convenors of the network during this period were Phil Cheeseman (Lancaster) and Ruth Murphy (King’s College London).

The ADN met regularly during a series of monthly informal catch-up sessions, which provide valuable touchpoints for meeting new members and providing broader network support.

The ADN launched a pilot reciprocal mentoring scheme in February 2025. This scheme established mentoring partnerships for 11 members of the Associate Directors Network and early career library staff, who work at other member institutions. The scheme explored themes related to career journeys and career development and is part of the wider work being undertaken by the network on workforce development.

Collections Strategy Network (CSN)

The RLUK Collections Strategy Network (CSN) is a professional-peer network for colleagues who are responsible for collection strategy within an RLUK member library. It acts as a forum for discussion, knowledge sharing, peer development, and harnesses RLUK members’ collective experience and expertise. Suzy Cheeke (Bristol) and Jane Saunders (Leeds) were co-convenors for the CSN until the end of 2024, when they were succeeded by Ruth Dale (Nottingham) and Sarah Thompson (York).

The network met both in person and virtually during the year to discuss updates from the various subgroups including ILL, Metadata and Open Infrastructure as well as Print Storage and OA Monographs.

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RLUK (Research Libraries UK)

Report of the Trustees

For the year ended 31 July 2025

The group also discussed next steps with ACS, UK PBC and the Big Five Publishers The network also hosted a monthly Read & Publish Coffee Morning with participation from the OSN and OAPP.

Digital Scholarship Network (DSN)

The RLUK Digital Scholarship Network (DSN) is a professional peer network for RLUK members involved in the development and delivery of Digital Scholarship services within member libraries, by Lesley Gray (Cambridge) and Jodie Double (Leeds). Jodie became co-convenor of the DSN from January 2025 when Gavin Boyce (Sheffield) stepped down.

The DSN continued to meet regularly with a mix of in person and online, informal virtual cafe sessions. These provide an opportunity for meeting new members and providing broader network support. DSN members have also shared and updated their platforms and digital scholarship benchmarking inventories.

Events included the results of the Digital Shift Maturity Survey and a joint SCHN/DSN hybrid meeting which took place in Glasgow on Thursday 10 October on the topic of AI in Special Collections and Heritage.

DSN colleagues continued to collaborate with the US Digital Library Federation for a Digital Transatlantic Skills meeting on Critical AI Literacy in October 2024.

New Directors’ Network (NDN)

The New Directors Network (NDN) continues to provide an informal forum for mutual support for recently appointed Library Directors at RLUK member institutions. As well as a well-used group mailing list, the NDN met virtually and in-person throughout the year.

Open Strategy Network (OSN)

The RLUK Open Strategy Network (OSN) was launched in 2022 as a professional peer network for RLUK members leading Scholarly Communication, Open Science, Open Research, Open Scholarship and related activities within member libraries. The network was co-convened by James Bisset (Durham) and Ruth Mallialieu (Oxford) during 2024/25.

Key topics investigated through the year included support for green OA and repository infrastructure.

Special Collections and Heritage Network (SCHN)

The RLUK Special Collections and Heritage Network (SCHN) is a professional peer network for RLUK colleagues leading cultural heritage activities within member libraries. Kevin Bacon (Collections Senior Manager, University of Sussex) and Angela Haighton (Associate Director, Cultural Collections and One University, University of Sheffield) will be leading the SCHN over the next 2 years. The SCHN met regularly during the year and discussed equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI) principles, sustainability, and creative approaches to engagement. They also published a position paper on ‘Equity, diversity, and inclusion in the research library: a special and heritage collections perspective’.

Meetings

RLUK Members’ Meeting

The 2024 RLUK Members’ Meeting was hosted by the University of Edinburgh on 7-8 November 2024. The Meeting opened on the afternoon of 7 November with a session on Values and Voices, sharing RLUK’s new values: Ambitious, Collaborative and Ethical and hearing from colleagues who weren’t able to join the meeting. The second day focused on Horizons with a mix of AI, from Gavin McLachlan (Edinburgh) and Ben Johnson (Strathclyde) with insights around research innovation.

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RLUK (Research Libraries UK)

Report of the Trustees

For the year ended 31 July 2025

RLUK25 Conference

The RLUK25 Conference, Champions of knowledge: Libraries as beacons of trust and integrity was held in person at Spaces at the Spine in Liverpool, 19-21 March 2025. The Conference explored the philosophical and pragmatic challenges for research libraries and their role in upholding the values of trust and integrity.

This was the first in person RLUK conference since 2019. Keynote talks were delivered by Lucy Everest (University of Liverpool) and Christopher Smith (AHRC) as well as Ciaran Talbot (University of Manchester), Mahaletchumy Arujanan (International Service for the Acquisition of Agribiotech Applications) & Emmanuel Boakye (founder, African Reproducibility Network). Michelle Charters, Head of the International Slavery Museum closed the conference.

Presentations and Publications

Conferences

Kamposiori, Christina, “Virtual Reading Rooms: transforming access to collections through remote technologies”, Archives West Midlands ‘Digital Progress Programme’ Virtual Seminar, 13 March 2024.

Kamposiori, Christina, “Embedding diversity and inclusion in research library recruitment practices”, CALC25: Critical Approaches to Libraries Virtual Conference, 13-15 May 2025.

Kamposiori, Christina, “Equality, diversity, and inclusion in the research library: looking at recruitment practices”, Neurodivergent Library and Information Staff Network Virtual Event, 10 July 2025.

Nixon, William, “Next Generation Repositories” Open Learning: Open Science, Open Libraries, Madrid, Spain, 1 October 2024.

Nixon, William, “The Value of Informal Professional Networks for Developing Leaders: A Case Study from the LIBER Emerging Leaders Programme” LIBER 2025, Lausanne, Switzerland, 2 July 2025.

Publications

Nixon, William, “Revisiting the RLUK Digital Shift Maturity Survey: Reflections on the Use of ChatGPT 4o”, 28 July 2025, RLUK Blog.

Prosser, David, “End of big deals is a chance to build a better publishing system”, 22 January 2025, Research Professional.

Prosser, David, “Looking to the Future – Mapping the Environment for Research Libraries” 14 August 2025, RLUK Blog.

Financial review

a. Principal risks and uncertainties

The Executive and Board carry out reviews during the year of the risks to which the charity is exposed. These include environmental, business, financial and operational factors. Where issues are identified appropriate means to address them are introduced. The mechanisms for managing risks are through the maintenance of a risk register that is regularly reviewed by the Board.

b. Financial review

The net income for the financial year amounted to £33,170 (2024: £44,826 deficit). RLUK’s income is obtained from membership subscriptions, member services and bank interest, together with any strategic investment funding received from partner organisations engaging in collaborative projects, studies and other work. Member organisations and partners may also provide indirect support via contribution of staff time via secondments and membership of working groups.

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RLUK (Research Libraries UK)

Report of the Trustees

For the year ended 31 July 2025

Income received has been used to support strategic activities, initiatives, services and projects as detailed under achievements and performance.

c. Reserves policy

As a charitable company RLUK has both maintained a prudent level of reserves and an enhanced level of funding to support strategic initiatives for the benefit of research support and to achieve its objectives in the future. RLUK has a three-year financial planning cycle to provide a longer-term framework for the management of both its general and strategic finances.

The current reserves policy was set by the Board at its meeting of 10 February 2023. It was agreed that the total assets of RLUK (across all accounts and investments) should not fall below £300,000. This figure comprises two components, strategic spend and funds to cover a change in circumstances. The strategic spend component provides £50,000 for unexpected expenditure for projects related to the strategic plan, unplanned projects of importance to the membership, or unforeseen circumstances such as additional operating costs. The remainder of the reserve funds would cover a change in circumstances, providing funds to continue operating for a period of time, or to allow for the highly unlikely event of a wind-down and to meet the staff and service costs associated with this.

It was further agreed that the Executive be empowered to make future investments, provided this reserve policy is not breached.

Total free reserves held by the charity, defined as unrestricted net current assets, at 31 July 2025 were £465,291 (2024: £480,580).

d. Going concern

After making appropriate enquiries, the trustees have a reasonable expectation that the company has adequate resources to continue in operational existence for the foreseeable future. For this reason, they continue to adopt the going concern basis in preparing the financial statements. Further details regarding the adoption of the going concern basis can be found in the accounting policies.

e. Material investments policy

As an incorporated charity, RLUK is empowered to set aside, disburse and invest monies at its disposal according to the provisions of its constitution. The main clauses covering the operation of this are Memorandum of Association clauses 3(g):

“To raise funds, whether by the levying of subscriptions, by means of donations, by private or public appeals or otherwise, and to seek any form of assistance, sponsorship or grant from public or private sources;”

3(r):

“Subject to such conditions (if any) and such consents (if any) as may for the time being be imposed or required by law and subject also as hereinafter provided to invest and deal with the moneys of RLUK not immediately required for its purposes in or upon such investments or securities and in such manner as may from time to time be determined;”

and 3(w):

“To set aside income as a reserve against future expenditure but only in accordance with a written policy about reserves.”

Our investment objectives are relatively straightforward, that is, to ensure that historically low rates of interest are counteracted in as low a risk way as possible; that is, through the mechanism of a short-

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RLUK (Research Libraries UK)

Report of the Trustees

For the year ended 31 July 2025

term fixed-rate solution that will not jeopardise the capital invested as such. RLUK currently has £550,000 invested in a Natwest Treasury Reserve Deposit Account.

f. Future developments

The current RLUK strategy, The Library Transforming, runs until the end of 2025. RLUK will publish an ambitious new five-year strategy for 2026-2030 in early 2026, together with a set of specific actions and projects for the year.

Statement of responsibilities of the trustees

The trustees (who are also directors of the charity for the purposes of company law) are responsible for preparing the Trustees' report and the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards, including Financial Reporting Standard 102: The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).

Company law requires the trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial year, which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charity and of the income and expenditure of the charity for that period. In preparing those financial statements the trustees are required to:

The trustees are responsible for keeping proper accounting records which disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charity and which enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Companies Act 2006. The trustees are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charity and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.

In so far as the trustees are aware:

The trustees are responsible for the maintenance and integrity of the corporate and financial information included on the charitable company's website. Legislation in the United Kingdom governing the preparation and dissemination of financial statements may differ from legislation in other jurisdictions.

Members of the charity guarantee to contribute an amount not exceeding £1 to the assets of the charity in the event of winding up. The trustees are members of the charity but this entitles them only to voting rights. The trustees have no beneficial interest in the charity.

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RLUK (Research Libraries UK)

Report of the Trustees

For the year ended 31 July 2025

Auditors

Godfrey Wilson Limited were reappointed as auditors to the charitable company during the year and have expressed their willingness to continue in that capacity.

Approved by the trustees on 20 February 2026 and signed on their behalf by

E Fay

Ed Fay – Treasurer

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Independent auditors' report

To the members of

RLUK (Research Libraries UK)

Opinion

We have audited the financial statements of RLUK (Research Libraries UK) (the 'charity') for the year ended 31 July 2025 which comprise the statement of financial activities, balance sheet, statement of cash flows and the related notes to the financial statements, including a summary of significant accounting policies. The financial reporting framework that has been applied in their preparation is applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards, including Financial Reporting Standard 102: The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).

In our opinion, the financial statements:

▪have been prepared in accordance with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006.

Basis for opinion

We conducted our audit in accordance with International Standards on Auditing (UK) (ISAs (UK)) and applicable law. Our responsibilities under those standards are further described in the Auditor’s responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements section of our report. We are independent of the charity in accordance with the ethical requirements that are relevant to our audit of the financial statements in the UK, including the FRC’s Ethical Standard, and the provisions available for small entities, in the circumstances set out in note 8 to the financial statements, and we have fulfilled our other ethical responsibilities in accordance with these requirements. We believe that the audit evidence we have obtained is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our opinion.

Conclusions relating to going concern

In auditing the financial statements, we have concluded that the trustees’ use of the going concern basis of accounting in the preparation of the financial statements is appropriate.

Based on the work we have performed, we have not identified any material uncertainties relating to events or conditions that, individually or collectively, may cast significant doubt on the charity's ability to continue as a going concern for a period of at least twelve months from when the financial statements are authorised for issue.

Our responsibilities and the responsibilities of the trustees with respect to going concern are described in the relevant sections of this report.

Other information

The other information comprises the information included in the annual report other than the financial statements and our auditor’s report thereon. The trustees are responsible for the other information. Our opinion on the financial statements does not cover the other information and, except to the extent otherwise explicitly stated in our report, we do not express any form of assurance conclusion thereon.

15

Independent auditors' report

To the members of

RLUK (Research Libraries UK)

In connection with our audit of the financial statements, our responsibility is to read the other information and, in doing so, consider whether the other information is materially inconsistent with the financial statements or our knowledge obtained in the audit or otherwise appears to be materially misstated. If we identify such material inconsistencies or apparent material misstatements, we are required to determine whether there is a material misstatement in the financial statements or a material misstatement of the other information. If, based on the work we have performed, we conclude that there is a material misstatement of this other information, we are required to report that fact.

We have nothing to report in this regard.

Opinion on other matters prescribed by the Companies Act 2006

In our opinion, based on the work undertaken in the course of the audit:

Matters on which we are required to report by exception

In the light of the knowledge and understanding of the company and its environment obtained in the course of the audit, we have not identified material misstatements in the directors’ report included within the trustees’ report. We have nothing to report in respect of the following matters in relation to which the Companies Act 2006 requires us to report to you if, in our opinion:

Responsibilities of the trustees

As explained more fully in the trustees’ responsibilities statement set out in the trustees’ report, the trustees (who are also the directors of the charitable company for the purposes of company law) are responsible for the preparation of the financial statements and for being satisfied that they give a true and fair view, and for such internal control as the trustees determine is necessary to enable the preparation of financial statements that are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error.

In preparing the financial statements, the trustees are responsible for assessing the charity’s ability to continue as a going concern, disclosing, as applicable, matters related to going concern and using the going concern basis of accounting unless the trustees either intend to liquidate the charity or to cease operations, or have no realistic alternative but to do so.

16

Independent auditors' report

To the members of

RLUK (Research Libraries UK)

Our responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements

Our objectives are to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements as a whole are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error, and to issue an auditor’s report that includes our opinion. Reasonable assurance is a high level of assurance, but is not a guarantee that an audit conducted in accordance with ISAs (UK) will always detect a material misstatement when it exists. Misstatements can arise from fraud or error and are considered material if, individually or in the aggregate, they could reasonably be expected to influence the economic decisions of users taken on the basis of these financial statements.

Irregularities, including fraud, are instances of non-compliance with laws and regulations. We design procedures in line with our responsibilities, outlined above, to detect material misstatements in respect of irregularities, including fraud. The procedures we carried out and the extent to which they are capable of detecting irregularities, including fraud, are detailed below:

(1) We obtained an understanding of the legal and regulatory framework that the charity operates in, and assessed the risk of non-compliance with applicable laws and regulations. Throughout the audit, we remained alert to possible indications of non-compliance.

(2) We reviewed the charity’s policies and procedures in relation to:

(3) We inspected the minutes of trustee meetings.

(4) We enquired about any non-routine communication with regulators and reviewed any reports made to them.

(5) We reviewed the financial statement disclosures and assessed their compliance with applicable laws and regulations.

(6) We performed analytical procedures to identify any unusual or unexpected transactions or balances that may indicate a risk of material fraud or error.

(7) We assessed the risk of fraud through management override of controls and carried out procedures to address this risk. Our procedures included:

▪Testing transactions that are unusual or outside the normal course of business.

Because of the inherent limitations of an audit, there is a risk that we will not detect all irregularities, including those leading to a material misstatement in the financial statements or non-compliance with regulation. Irregularities that arise due to fraud can be even harder to detect than those that arise from error as they may involve deliberate concealment or collusion.

17

Independent auditors' report

To the members of

RLUK (Research Libraries UK)

A further description of our responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements is located on the Financial Reporting Council’s website at: www.frc.org.uk/auditorsresponsibilities. This description forms part of our auditor’s report.

Use of our report

This report is made solely to the charityʼs members, as a body, in accordance with Chapter 3 of Part 16 of the Companies Act 2006. Our audit work has been undertaken so that we might state to the charityʼs members those matters we are required to state to them in an auditorʼs report and for no other purpose. To the fullest extent permitted by law, we do not accept or assume responsibility to anyone other than the charityʼs members as a body, for our audit work, for this report, or for the opinions we have formed.

William Guy Blake

Date: 23 February 2026

William Guy Blake ACA (Senior Statutory Auditor)

For and on behalf of:

GODFREY WILSON LIMITED

Chartered accountants and statutory auditors 5th Floor Mariner House 62 Prince Street Bristol BS1 4QD

18

RLUK (Research Libraries UK)

Statement of financial activities (incorporating an income and expenditure account)

For the year ended 31 July 2025

Note
Income from:
Charitable activities
3
Other trading
4
Investments
5
Total income
Expenditure on:
Charitable activities
Total expenditure
6
Net income / (expenditure)
Transfers between funds
Net movement in funds
9
Reconciliation of funds:
Total funds brought forward
Total funds carried forward		 Restricted
£
100,000
-
-
100,000
39,541
39,541
60,459
(12,000)
48,459
155,111
203,570		 Unrestricted
£
434,363
32,400
23,410
490,173
517,462
517,462
(27,289)
12,000
(15,289)
480,580
465,291		 2025
Total
£
534,363
32,400
23,410
590,173
557,003
557,003
33,170
-
33,170
635,691
668,861		 Restated
2024
Total
£
392,678
3,000
19,188
414,866
459,692
459,692
(44,826)
-
(44,826)
680,517
635,691

All of the above results are derived from continuing activities. There were no other recognised gains or losses other than those stated above. Movements in funds are disclosed in note 17 to the accounts.

The prior period statement of financial activities has been restated to reclassify subscription income as charitable activities rather than donation income and sponsorship income as other trading rather than charitable activities. The restatement does not affect net income.

19

RLUK (Research Libraries UK)

Balance sheet

As at 31 July 2025

Note
Fixed assets
Tangible assets
12
Current assets
Debtors
13
Cash at bank and in hand
Liabilities
Creditors: amounts falling due within 1 year
14
Net current assets
Net assets
16
Funds
17
Restricted funds
Unrestricted funds
General funds
Total charity funds		 £
30,417
700,431
730,848
(63,673)		 2025
£
1,686
667,175
668,861
203,570
465,291
668,861		 2024
£
3,774
46,374
650,882
697,256
(65,339)
631,917
635,691
155,111
480,580
635,691

These accounts have been prepared in accordance with the special provisions applicable to companies subject to the small companies' regime.

Approved by the trustees on 20 February 2026 and signed on their behalf by

E Fay

Ed Fay - Treasurer

20

RLUK (Research Libraries UK)

Statement of cash flows

For the year ended 31 July 2025

Cash flows from operating activities:
Net movement in funds
Adjustments for:
Depreciation charges
Loss on disposal of fixed assets
Dividends, interest and rent from investments
Decrease in debtors
Decrease in creditors
Net cash provided by / (used in) operating activities
Cash flows from investing activities:
Dividends, interest and rent from investments
Net cash provided by investing activities
Increase / (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents in the year
Cash and cash equivalents at the beginning of the year
Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the year		 2025
£
33,170
2,016
72
(23,410)
15,957
(1,666)
26,139
23,410
23,410
49,549
650,882
700,431		 2024
£
(47,826)
2,221
-
(19,188)
10,567
(208,341)
(262,567)
19,188
19,188
(243,379)
891,261
647,882

The charity has not provided an analysis of changes in net debt as it does not have any long term financing arrangements.

21

RLUK (Research Libraries UK)

Notes to the financial statements

For the year ended 31 July 2025

1. Accounting policies

a) General information and basis of preparation

RLUK (Research Libraries UK) is a charitable company limited by guarantee registered in England and Wales. The registered office address is Room 257, Senate House, Malet Street, London, WC1E 7HU.

The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities in preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) (effective 1 January 2019) - (Charities SORP (FRS 102)), the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) and the Companies Act 2006.

RLUK (Research Libraries UK) meets the definition of a public benefit entity under FRS 102. Assets and liabilities are initially recognised at historical cost or transaction value unless otherwise stated in the relevant accounting policy note(s).

b) Going concern basis of accounting

The accounts have been prepared on the assumption that the charity is able to continue as a going concern, which the trustees consider appropriate having regard to the current level of unrestricted reserves. There are no material uncertainties about the charity's ability to continue as a going concern.

c) Income

Income is recognised when the charity has entitlement to the funds, any performance conditions attached to the item(s) of income have been met, it is probable that the income will be received and the amount can be measured reliably.

Contract income is deferred to the period in which services are delivered.

Income from the government and other grants, whether 'capital' grants or 'revenue' grants, is recognised when the charity has entitlement to the funds, any performance conditions attached to the grants have been met, it is probable that the income will be received and the amount can be measured reliably and is not deferred.

Member subscriptions are recognised over the period to which the income relates. Sponsorship or ticket income received in advance of conferences is deferred until the conference takes place.

d) Interest receivable

Interest on funds held on deposit is included when receivable and the amount can be measured reliably by the charity: this is normally upon notification of the interest paid or payable by the bank.

e) Funds accounting

Unrestricted funds are available to spend on activities that further any of the purposes of the charity. Designated funds are unrestricted funds of the charity which the trustees have decided at their discretion to set aside to use for a specific purpose. Restricted funds are donations which the donor has specified are to be solely used for particular areas of the charity's work or for specific projects being undertaken by the charity.

22

RLUK (Research Libraries UK)

Notes to the financial statements

For the year ended 31 July 2025

1. Accounting policies (continued)

f) Expenditure and irrecoverable VAT

Expenditure is recognised once there is a legal or constructive obligation to make a payment to a third party, it is probable that settlement will be required and the amount of the obligation can be measured reliably.

Irrecoverable VAT is charged as a cost against the activity for which the expenditure was incurred.

g) Grants payable

Grants which have been authorised and paid are included as expenditure in the Statement of Financial Activities. Grants which have been authorised but not yet paid are accrued in the balance sheet and are included within creditors falling due within one year or after one year (as appropriate).

h) Allocation of support and governance costs

Support costs are those functions that assist the work of the charity but do not directly undertake charitable activities. Governance costs are the costs associated with the governance arrangements of the charity, including the costs of complying with constitutional and statutory requirements and any costs associated with the strategic management of the charity’s activities. There has been no staff time spent on raising funds in either the current or prior year. Support and governance costs are therefore allocated in full to charitable activities.

i) Tangible fixed assets

Depreciation is provided at rates calculated to write down the cost of each asset to its estimated residual value over its expected useful life. The depreciation rates in use are as follows:

Equipment and furniture

25% straight line

Items of equipment are capitalised where the purchase price exceeds £2,000.

j) Debtors

Trade and other debtors are recognised at the settlement amount due after any trade discount offered. Prepayments are valued at the amount prepaid net of any trade discounts due.

k) Cash at bank and in hand

Cash at bank and cash in hand includes cash and short term highly liquid investments with a short maturity of three months or less from the date of acquisition or opening of the deposit or similar account.

l) Creditors

Creditors and provisions are recognised where the charity has a present obligation resulting from a past event that will probably result in the transfer of funds to a third party and the amount due to settle the obligation can be measured or estimated reliably. Creditors and provisions are normally recognised at their settlement amount after allowing for any trade discounts due.

23

RLUK (Research Libraries UK)

Notes to the financial statements

For the year ended 31 July 2025

1. Accounting policies (continued)

m) Financial instruments

The charitable company only has financial assets and financial liabilities of a kind that qualify as basic financial instruments. Basic financial instruments are initially recognised at transaction value and subsequently measured at their settlement value with the exception of bank loans which are subsequently recognised at amortised cost using the effective interest method.

n) Accounting estimates and key judgements

In the application of the charity's accounting policies, the trustees are required to make judgements, estimates and assumptions about the carrying values of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. The estimates and underlying assumptions are based on historical experience and other factors that are considered to be relevant. Actual results may differ from these estimates.

The estimates and underlying assumptions are reviewed on an ongoing basis. Revisions to accounting estimates are recognised in the period in which the estimate is revised if the revision affects only that period, or in the period of the revision and future periods if the revision affects both current and future periods.

The key judgement applied in the preparation of these financial statements is in depreciation of fixed assts as described in note 1 (i) above.

2. Prior period comparatives: statement of financial activities

Income from:
Charitable activities
Investments
Total income
Expenditure on:
Charitable activities
Total expenditure
Net expenditure and net movement in funds		 Restricted
£
-
-
-
28,179
28,179
(28,179)		 £
392,678
19,188
411,866
431,513
431,513
(19,647)
Unrestricted		 Restated
2024
Total
£
392,678
19,188
411,866
459,692
459,692
(47,826)

24

RLUK (Research Libraries UK)

Notes to the financial statements

For the year ended 31 July 2025

3. Income from charitable activities

Subscriptions
Conferences
Grants
Total income from charitable activities
Prior period comparative:
Subscriptions
Conferences
Total income from charitable activities		 Restricted
£
-
-
100,000
100,000
Restricted
£
-
-
-		 £
393,120
41,243
-
434,363
£
384,306
8,372
392,678
Unrestricted
Unrestricted		 2025
Total
£
393,120
41,243
100,000
534,363
Restated
2024
Total
£
384,306
8,372
392,678

Income from subscriptions has been restated to reclassify subscriptions as income from charitable activities rather than donations. Income from sponsorships has been reclassified as income from other trading from charitable activities. This is to better reflect the nature of the income in line with the Charities SORP.

4. Income from other trading

Sponsorships 2025
Total
£
32,400		 2024
Total
£
3,000

All income from other trading in the current and prior period was unrestricted.

5. Income from investments

Bank interest received 2025
Total
£
23,410		 2024
Total
£
19,188

All income from investments in the current and prior period was unrestricted.

25

RLUK (Research Libraries UK)

Notes to the financial statements

For the year ended 31 July 2025

6. Total expenditure

Staff costs (note 10)
Conference costs
Strategic development costs
Office costs
Audit and accountancy
Travel and subsistence
Member network costs
Other governance costs
Professional fees
Grants payable (note 7)
Sub-total
Allocation of support and governance costs
Total expenditure
Total governance costs were £17,775 (2024: £21,759).
Prior period comparative:
Staff costs (note 10)
Strategic development costs
Conference costs
Office costs
Audit and accountancy
Travel and subsistence
Other governance costs
Member network costs
Professional fees
Grants payable (note 7)
Outreach / subscriptions
Sub-total
Allocation of support and governance costs
Total expenditure		 £
268,814
98,686
32,048
-
-
16,775
5,324
-
-
3,721
425,368
131,635
557,003
£
238,694
38,290
24,646
-
-
16,871
-
3,505
-
500
443
322,949
136,743
459,692
Charitable
activities
Charitable
activities		 £
76,186
-
-
27,337
19,587
-
-
4,768
3,757
-
131,635
(131,635)
-
£
78,850
-
-
20,106
19,660
-
14,909
-
3,218
-
-
136,743
(136,743)
-
Support
and
governance
Support
and
governance		 £
345,000
98,686
32,048
27,337
19,587
16,775
5,324
4,768
3,757
3,721
2025
Total
557,003
-
557,003
£
317,544
38,290
24,646
20,106
19,660
16,871
14,909
3,505
3,218
500
443
2024
Total
459,692
-
459,692

26

RLUK (Research Libraries UK)

Notes to the financial statements

For the year ended 31 July 2025

7. Grants payable During the year, nil (2024: 1) grants were awarded to nil (2024: 1) organisations to fund professional practice fellowships. During the year, 8 (2024: nil) grants were awarded to 8 (2024: nil) individuals to cover travel and accommodation expenses incurred on attendance at the RLUK conference.

8. Grants payable to institutions:
Professional Practice Fellowship Scheme
University of Sussex
Grants payable to individuals:
RLUK conference bursaries
Grant commitments
Grant commitments brought forward
Grants committed during the period
Grants paid during the period
Grant commitments carried forward		 2025
£
-
3,721
3,721
2025
£
-
3,721
(3,721)
-		 2024
£
500
-
500
2024
£
215,975
500
(216,475)
-

27

RLUK (Research Libraries UK)

Notes to the financial statements

For the year ended 31 July 2025

9. Net movement in funds

This is stated after charging:

Depreciation
Loss on disposal of fixed assets
Trustees' remuneration
Trustees' reimbursed expenses
Auditors' remuneration:
Statutory audit (excluding VAT)		 2025
£
2,016
72
Nil
3,298
7,200		 2024
£
2,221
-
Nil
1,787
6,850

Trustee reimbursed expenses relate to travel costs for 9 (2024: 7) trustees.

In common with other charities of our size and nature we use our auditors to assist with the preparation of the financial statements.

10. Staff costs and numbers

All staff are employed by the University of London. Staff costs are recharged to RLUK. The total staff costs (including employer national insurance and pension contributions) are as follows:

Staff costs recharged from University of London 2025
£
345,000		 2024
£
317,544

The key management personnel of the charity comprise the Trustees and Chief Executive Officer. The total employee benefits of the key management personnel were £117,411 (2024: £115,181).

The average staff head count was 4 (2024: 4).

11. Taxation

The charity is exempt from corporation tax as all its income is charitable and is applied for charitable purposes.

28

RLUK (Research Libraries UK)

Notes to the financial statements

For the year ended 31 July 2025

12. Tangible fixed assets

Cost
At 1 August 2024
Disposals
At 31 July 2025
Depreciation
At 1 August 2024
Charge for the year
Disposals
At 31 July 2025
Net book value
At 31 July 2025
At 31 July 2024
13. Debtors
Trade debtors
Prepayments and accrued income
VAT
14. Creditors : amounts falling due within 1 year
Trade creditors
Accruals
Deferred income (note 15)
Other creditors		 £
8,881
(1,142)
7,739
5,107
2,016
(1,070)
6,053
1,686
3,774
2025
2024
£
£
3,915
12,406
3,226
21,478
23,276
12,490
30,417
46,374
2025
2024
£
£
44,157
37,360
18,964
7,109
-
20,160
552
710
63,673
65,339
Equipment and
furniture		 £
8,881
(1,142)
7,739
5,107
2,016
(1,070)
6,053
1,686
3,774
2025
2024
£
£
3,915
12,406
3,226
21,478
23,276
12,490
30,417
46,374
2025
2024
£
£
44,157
37,360
18,964
7,109
-
20,160
552
710
63,673
65,339
Equipment and
furniture
7,739
5,107
2,016
(1,070)
6,053
1,686
3,774
2024
£
12,406
21,478
12,490
46,374
2024
£
37,360
7,109
20,160
710
65,339

29

RLUK (Research Libraries UK)

Notes to the financial statements

For the year ended 31 July 2025

15. Deferred income

Deferred income
At 1 August 2024
Deferred during the year
Released during the year
At 31 July 2025
Deferred income relates to subscription income invoiced in advance.		 2025
£
20,160
-
(20,160)
-		 2024
£
19,708
20,160
(19,708)
20,160

16. Analysis of net assets between funds

Analysis of net assets between funds
Tangible fixed assets
Current assets
Current liabilities
Net assets at 31 July 2025
Prior period comparative
Tangible fixed assets
Current assets
Current liabilities
Net assets at 31 July 2024		 £
-
203,570
-
203,570
£
-
155,111
-
155,111
Restricted
funds
Restricted
funds		 £
1,686
527,278
(63,673)
465,291
£
3,774
542,145
(65,339)
480,580
General
funds
General
funds		 £
1,686
730,848
(63,673)
Total
funds
668,861
£
3,774
697,256
(65,339)
Total
funds
635,691

30

RLUK (Research Libraries UK)

Notes to the financial statements

For the year ended 31 July 2025

17. Movements in funds

Restricted funds
AHRC Fellowships
AHRC Fellows support
AHRC Impact and evaluation
AHRC Programme manager
EBSCO
National Archives
OA Monographs Project
Total restricted funds
General funds
Total unrestricted funds
Total funds
Unrestricted funds
AHRC Building research
capacity		 At 1
August
2024
£
8,350
7,905
20,000
10,000
70,000
35,000
3,856
-
155,111
480,580
480,580
635,691		 Income
£
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
100,000
100,000
490,173
490,173
590,173		 £
-
(6,584)
(8,000)
-
(19,585)
(4,000)
(1,372)
-
(39,541)
(517,462)
(517,462)
(557,003)
Expenditure		 Transfers
between
funds
£
(8,350)
8,350
-
-
-
(12,000)
-
-
(12,000)
12,000
12,000
-		 At 31 July
2025
£
-
9,671
12,000
10,000
50,415
19,000
2,484
100,000
203,570
465,291
465,291
668,861

Purposes of restricted funds

AHRC Fellowships

This fund supports the AHRC-RLUK Professional Practice Fellowship Scheme, which is designed to develop and promote research capacity, capability, and confidence amongst colleagues working across the research and academic library community.

AHRC Fellows support

This fund is to enable the organisation of ‘Celebrating Research’ events that will showcase the research activities of the AHRC-RLUK Fellows and provide a focus for a wider narrative of the impact and outcomes of the programmes.

AHRC Building research capacity

This will fund a third Research Catalyst Cohort Programme which will run in 2025-26.

AHRC Impact and evaluation

This fund is to enable an evaluation and impact assessment of the RLUK-AHRC Programmes in order to provide a holistic view of the impact of the programmes on the Fellows, their institutions, and the wider research library community.

31

RLUK (Research Libraries UK)

Notes to the financial statements

For the year ended 31 July 2025

17. Movements in funds (continued) Purposes of restricted funds (continued)

AHRC programme manager

This fund is to support the appointment of a Programme Manager for an RLUK Shared Print project.

EBSCO

This fund represents monies received from EBSCO for the purpose of developing a number of events and projects around the open source FOLIO services platform and conference sponsorship.

The National Archives

This fund represents funds received from The National Archives to undertake a number of joint activities with RLUK.

OA Monographs project

The Open Access Monographs Advocacy Toolkit Project addresses the uneven adoption of open access for long-form publications across UK higher education institutions, aiming to tackle issues around complexity of processes, variances in funding models, administrative burdens, and REF impacts. The project also aims to build connections with other initiatives, explore alternative business models and infrastructures, provide practical case studies, and ensure institutions are able to comply with the UKRI Open Access monographs policy, including clarifying Rights Retention for monographs.

Transfers between funds

Transfer between funds represent the repurposing of restricted funding as agreed with funders.

32

RLUK (Research Libraries UK)

Notes to the financial statements

For the year ended 31 July 2025

17. Movements in funds (continued)
Prior period comparative
At 1
August
2023
£
Restricted funds
AHRC Fellowships
136,072
AHRC Fellows support
-
-
AHRC Impact and evaluation
-
AHRC Programme manager
-
EBSCO
40,000
Emerging Leaders
5,520
Fellowships
2,198
National Archives
4,500
Total restricted funds
188,290
Designated funds:
Emerging leaders
5,000
Total designated funds
5,000
General funds
487,227
Total unrestricted funds
492,227
Total funds
680,517
AHRC Building research
Unrestricted funds		 Income
£
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
414,866
414,866
414,866		 £
(500)
(7,095)
(12,222)
-
-
-
(5,520)
(2,198)
(644)
(28,179)
(5,000)
(5,000)
(426,513)
(431,513)
(459,692)
Expenditure		 Transfers
between
funds
£
(127,222)
15,000
32,222
10,000
70,000
(5,000)
-
-
-
(5,000)
-
-
5,000
5,000
-		 At 31 July
2024
£
8,350
7,905
20,000
10,000
70,000
35,000
-
-
3,856
155,111
-
-
480,580
480,580
635,691

18. Related party transactions

Due to the nature of the charitable company's activities and the composition of the Board it is inevitable that transactions may take place with organisations in which a member of the Board may have an interest. All transactions involving organisations in which a member of the Board may have an interest are conducted at arm's length and in accordance with the respective organisations normal procurement procedures.

33