Simon Bains

Simon Bains is Head of Research Services and Deputy Librarian at the University of Manchester, responsible for ensuring the University Library meets the research needs of the University, and its Faculties and Schools. Previously he was Head of Digital Library at the University of Edinburgh, and Digital Library Manager at the National Library of Scotland, and has also held professional posts at Cranfield University and City University, London.

He has particular interests in the development of libraries as curators and disseminators of university research outputs, open access scholarly publishing, information skills provision as an important component of student learning, and the changing use of library physical spaces. He has worked nationally and internationally on a range of research library issues, including online reference services, digitisation and new methods of resource discovery. He has spoken and written extensively on digital libraries.

Simon has sat on national and international advisory committees for organisations including JISC, OCLC, the Research Information Network and Research Libraries UK, and was a director of the Digital Preservation Coalition 2004-2008. He is currently a member of the SCONUL strategy group for Academic Content and Communications, and the RLUK Associate Directors Network.