User Research: UK Gallery, Library, Archive and Museum (GLAM) Digital Collections Infrastructure

This report was commissioned by the Towards a National Collection (TaNC) Programme Directorate, to conduct a user consultation to identify researchers' needs and requirements, helping to define what should be included in a future UK digital collections infrastructure. This research was part of the TaNC programme, which aims to open up and democratise access to cultural heritage collections across the UK. The main aim of the consultation was to gain a comprehensive understanding of the needs and requirements of different research users across academia and Independent Research Organisations (IROs), and what they would like to see included in a future UK digital collections infrastructure. The consultation comprised three stages:

Initial liaison with TaNC-funded projects and consultants gathered strategic insights, framing the user consultation approach.

A mixed-method consultation, including focus groups, interviews, and a survey, to understand digital infrastructure needs across various research fields and career stages.

Critical analysis of the collected data revealed user requirements, motivations, career levels, and behaviours. Insights were shared and refined with key stakeholders.

This approach was designed to gain a nuanced understanding of user perspectives, informing the development of a tailored and effective UK digital collections infrastructure.