See you next year!

Thank you for attending the conference.   We hope you enjoyed it.


The 2015 conference will take place next year at
Cardiff Metropolitan University.

More information will be posted when it is available.

Some photos from the last day of the conference

All photos (unless indicated in by caption) were taken by Rose Roberto.

Chris Fowler gave a moving closing talk.  

She advocated for the value of subject specialism in librarianship.

Some photos from the second day of conference (including conference dinner at the Manchester Museum)

All photos in this post (unless indicated by caption) were taken by Rose Roberto.

 This building was across the street from where the conference dinner was held.

Dinner awaited us after a quick tour of the Manchester Museum

(This image is from the University of Manchester)

Photo by Elaine Cooke

Some photos from the first day of the conference

All photos in this post (unless indicated by caption) were taken by Rose Roberto.

Polly Christie speaking about Tate Britain.

Delegates prepare to go on various visits.

External view of the Lowry

Behind the scenes at new Lowry exhibition

Lowry archives

University of Salford's Digital Libary

Reception, photo by Lorraine Blackman

Delegates enjoying wine and conversation

Proud of the new book, photo by Kerry Eldon

Things to See & Do in Manchester

Considered by many to be England’s second city, Manchester is a place where an industrial and politically radical heritage goes hand in hand with a vibrant cultural scene, notable for its artistic, architectural, theatrical and musical output.

If you want to find out more about the city, its history and attractions, the Visit Manchester website provides a comprehensive guide of places to visit and where to eat, drink and stay as well as useful maps and transport information.

If you're arriving early or staying on after the conference, you may wonder how to spend your leisure time so here is a small selection of some of the best places to visit, eat and drink in. 

Galleries and Museums

Castlefield Gallery A contemporary art gallery featuring a diverse range of contemporary art across a programme of six exhibitions a year.

Cornerhouse A major force in Manchester’s, as well as Britain’s, contemporary arts scene, this arts centre features three cinema screens, three galleries, a café bar and a book shop specialising in film books, cultural magazines and postcards.

Manchester Art Gallery is one of the city’s most popular cultural destinations and houses many of Manchester’s most important works of fine and decorative art. The gallery is particularly well known for its collections of Pre-Raphaelite and impressionist paintings, but also hosts an exciting exhibition programme ranging from the historic to the contemporary and featuring photography, design and decorative arts.

Manchester Craft and Design Centre Winner of the 2013 Manchester Tourism award for ‘Best Independent Tourism Retailer’, the centre is home to two floors of studios where you can purchase goods ranging from jewellery and bags to ceramics, interior accessories and furniture, direct from the designer-makers themselves. The centre also comprises the Oak St Café Bar which is renowned for its coffee and delicious home cooked food, and runs a rolling programme of exhibitions showcasing both British and international contemporary craft and design.

MOSI Based on the site of the oldest passenger railway station in the world, the Museum of Science and Industry is an attraction not to be missed. With highlights including the hands-on ‘Experiment!’ gallery, huge collections of historic working machinery and vintage vehicles, the ‘Underground Manchester’ gallery which features a re-creation of a Victorian sewer and the ‘Making of Manchester’ exhibition that traces the history of the city from the Roman invasion to the present day, there really is something for everyone!

People’s History Museum A unique part of Manchester’s cultural make-up, the museum fits in perfectly with the city’s radical background, as it charts Britain’s struggle for equality and democracy over the past two centuries. Featuring interactive exhibits and activities in each of the main galleries, as well as a changing exhibitions space, the museum tackles a weighty and complex subject in a light and engaging manner.

Out and About

Castlefield is the industrial and Roman heart of Manchester, and its features include a partially reconstructed Roman fort, Roman amphitheatre, industrial revolution era canals and Victorian viaducts. It is also home to the Museum of Science and Industry, an events arena that hosts a range of one-off gatherings and performances and many popular bars and restaurants.

Exchange Square/New Cathedral Street As well as playing host to branches of two of the most renowned UK department stores in the shape of Harvey Nichols and Selfridges, this area is also home to many other upmarket retailers including Hugo Boss, Joseph, LK Bennett, Radley and Reiss. Facing the square you will find the Corn Exchange, which offers a variety of dining options ranging from Italian to Asian.

King Street Considered to be one of Manchester’s most prestigious shopping areas, here you can find collections from British and international brands including Cath Kidston, DKNY, Mulberry, Tommy Hilfiger, Vivienne Westwood and Whistles.

Northern Quarter Manchester’s self-styled creative district, situated between Piccadilly and Ancoats, is home to the Church Street Market as well as a vast array of independent shops, bars and eateries. Still featuring redbrick alleys, tiny shop fronts and sprawling warehouses right out of the 19^th century, the area is a hub of contemporary and street art nonetheless, with poems embedded in pavements, graffiti and stencil art decorating walls and shutters and even a giant blue tit mural adorning the side of a listed building.

Piccadilly Gardens The largest open space in the city centre, this area features grassy areas and fountains, surrounded by a variety of cafes, bars and restaurants. On a sunny day, it’s a great place for people watching or simply just taking in the bustling atmosphere. Thursdays see the arrival of the Street Food and Fruit and Flower markets, whilst the Craft Market trades on Fridays and Saturdays.

Eating and Drinking

There are too many cafes, bars and restaurants to list individually! If you would like some recommendations, why not check out TripAdvisor or Restaurants of Manchester. Alternatively the Visit Manchester website also has a dedicated ‘Food and Drink’ section.

Getting Around

Whilst the Visit Manchester website provides a full transport guide, it’s worth highlighting the free Metroshuttle bus service, which runs from all Manchester’s major railway stations and links the main attractions, car parks, shopping areas and businesses. Fast and frequent, the service runs from 7 am to 7 pm Monday to Friday, 8 am to 7 pm on Saturdays and 10 am -6 pm on Sundays.

Things to look out for in Manchester!

Only 19 days to the ARLIS UK & Ireland Conference in Manchester and here are some interesting facts and things to do around Manchester should you arrive early:

A short walking tour of Manchester which takes in some points of interest on the University of Manchester campus where the Conference will be held as well as the MMU campus and Oxford Road. You can find a google map with all the details here: http://goo.gl/maps/a0zdy

The Bee has been a symbol of Manchester since the Industrial Revolution. If you’d like to learn more about The Manchester Bee, please visit: http://themanchesterbees.tumblr.com/

There are 47 mosaics of the Space Invader image across Manchester. If you’d like to track them down here’s the invasion map:  http://www.space-invaders.com/map_manchester.html

Looking forward to seeing you all soon in sunny Manchester ;-) 

Poster Session Deadline extended until 24 June

Have you got a project you’d like to tell everyone about at the ARLIS Conference?

How about designing a poster to present at the Poster Session we’d like to run this year? It provides the opportunity to showcase the skills, experience and expertise of ARLIS members and for everyone to discuss new ideas.

When’s it running?

Thursday 17 July from 12:30 until 14:30.

Posters will be available to view during the lunch break and presenters should be on hand for most of the session to answer questions.

If you are interested please contact Gill Evans at (gill.evans@coventry.ac.uk) at Coventry University for more information before Wednesday June 24.

Please note that posters can only be displayed by Conference delegates.

Poster Session Guidelines

The Conference Working Party wishes to give registered delegates an opportunity to participate more fully in the Conference by offering the chance to present a poster on their chosen topic. It is hoped the poster session will act as a showcase for the professional interests, skills and expertise of ARLIS members and provide the opportunity for everyone to discuss the ideas and experience on display.

• The session will run on Thurs 17 July 12:30 until 14:30 in the Barnes Wallis Room.
• Posters should relate to projects, research or activities that you are involved in, either individually or as part of a group, which will be of interest to ARLIS members
• A display board measuring 2.1m high x 1.2m wide will be provided (takes up to A0
poster size and requires Velcro stickers for display)
• Posters need to be colourful and eye-catching. They should be clearly readable from a distance of two metres
• Posters should not be downloaded web pages or PowerPoint presentations
• Posters can be accompanied by explanatory handouts, but we cannot accommodate any further free-standing displays beside your display board
• Contributors should be on hand to answer questions throughout the session

Those intending to attend the Conference and wishing to present a poster are invited to submit the application form together with a brief description of not more than 200 words.

Applications must be received by 24 June 2014 and the Conference Working Party will make its decision known by 1 July 2014.

Please use online form to register

Hello everyone,
We would like to request if possible that you use the online form, rather than the printed one on the ARLIS website.  There are some technical difficulties with the ARLIS website and the print form is an older version that doesn't include dietary preferences.

Also, if you need to book an extra night before the conference or after (Tuesday or Friday) can you please indicate this in the box where visits and workshops are indicated.

Many thanks and we look forward to seeing you next month in Manchester.

Conference accommodation clarification

Please note: the Days Hotel is the recommended accommodation for the Conference this year and is located on the same campus as the Staff House Conference Centre, just a few minutes’ walk away.

Also note that the University of Manchester is in the process of renaming its Staff House to: ‘The Manchester Meeting Place’.

For more information and a map please see:
http://www.conference.manchester.ac.uk/our-venues/73-manchester-meeting-place

Or take a look at the walking directions from Manchester Piccadilly Station.

ARLIS invites you to Manchester

The ARLIS/UK and Ireland 45th Annual Conference will be held in the exciting city centre of Manchester, not far from the Peak District.  This year we are celebrating Art Librarianship with the theme, Reaching New Peaks: Onwards and Upwards.

Through a booming textile trade, Manchester earned the title of ‘Cottonopolis’ the world´s first industrialised city, now it is the UK’s third most visited city as visitors flock to take in the culture, architecture, sport, music scene and more.

During the Conference we will make the most of what this great historical city has to offer, with a varied programme celebrating recent achievements including digitisation, new buildings and visual archives. Join us as we visit the recently and beautifully refurbished Manchester Central Library and Archives+, go on walking tours and view the Special Collections of the University of Manchester and the Manchester Metropolitan University.

Other highlights will include a visit to and bespoke tour of Manchester Museum, dinner among the dinosaurs afterwards should not be missed!

Celebrate your work in the Poster Session

Have you got a project you’d like to tell everyone about at the ARLIS Conference?

How about designing a poster to present at the Poster Session we’d like to run this year? It provides the opportunity to showcase the skills, experience and expertise of ARLIS members and for everyone to discuss new ideas.

When’s it running?

Thursday 17 July from 12:30 until 14:30.

Posters will be available to view during the lunch break and presenters should be on hand for most of the session to answer questions.

If you are interested please contact Gill Evans at (gill.evans@coventry.ac.uk) at Coventry University for more information before Friday May 31st.

Please note that posters can only be displayed by Conference delegates.

Poster Session Guidelines

The Conference Working Party wishes to give registered delegates an opportunity toparticipate more fully in the Conference by offering the chance to present a poster on their chosen topic. It is hoped the poster session will act as a showcase for the professional interests, skills and expertise of ARLIS members and provide the opportunity for everyone to discuss the ideas and experience on display.

• The session will run on Thurs 17 July 12:30 until 14:30 in the Barnes Wallis Room.
• Posters should relate to projects, research or activities that you are involved in, either individually or as part of a group, which will be of interest to ARLIS members
• A display board measuring 2.1m high x 1.2m wide will be provided (takes up to A0
poster size and requires Velcro stickers for display)
• Posters need to be colourful and eye-catching. They should be clearly readable from a distance of two metres
• Posters should not be downloaded web pages or PowerPoint presentations
• Posters can be accompanied by explanatory handouts, but we cannot accommodate any further free-standing displays beside your display board
• Contributors should be on hand to answer questions throughout the session

Those intending to attend the Conference and wishing to present a poster are invited to submit the application form together with a brief description of not more than 200 words.

Applications must be received by 31 May 2014 and the Conference Working Party will make its decision known by 15 June 2014.

We all know that ARLIS members are involved in a wide variety of exciting projects and activities and this is your chance to tell everyone about them. Participation will be something to add to your CV and as evidence of continuing professional development for CILIP Chartership or revalidation purposes. All contributors will be presented with a certificate.

The Conference Working Party is looking forward to hearing from you!