At the recent start-up meeting of the Jisc Digital transformation library lens (DTLL) pilot programme, one of the participating institutions referred to the new Jisc Digital transformation library lens as “a framework for change”.
The DTLL framework was developed from the original Jisc Digital transformation framework for higher education and provides a library perspective on digital transformation. Jisc co-created it with a working group of over 45 UK university libraries and the support of CILIP, SCONUL and RLUK as described in our previous blog, Driving Digital Transformation; a university library point of view.
As part of the DTLL pilot programme, over the next year we’ll be working with seven university libraries who will use the newly developed DTLL framework to drive activities in their institutions. Digital transformation can take different flavours depending on use cases and where organisations are on their “maturity journey”.
Motivations
The DTLL pilot libraries exemplify different contexts and motivations for initiating digital transformation programmes. They’re all embarking on a series of structured interventions involving a range of stakeholders and in alignment with institutional strategies such as digital, learning and teaching, student experience, research and innovation, employability and widening participation. However, the challenges they’re setting out to tackle are wide-ranging:
- enhancing services: from students’ services to research infrastructure, repositories, and digital scholarship, identifying gaps and building on successful practices
- supporting student’s digital skills and outcomes more consistently, including in relation to the employment agenda, and through student co-creation initiatives
- fostering digital innovation in taking the lead, or contributing to, projects using immersive technologies, AI, and digitally enabled learning spaces
- enhancing staff’s digital capabilities, skills and confidence, and driving the digital skills agenda
- widening participation and access to collections through digital innovation and strategic partnerships
- contributing to the development or refreshment of institutional strategies, ensuring that library’s role is recognised
Use of the DTLL framework
A common thread running through all the pilots is a determination to increase the library’s visibility within their institution. Libraries are keen to ensure they are recognised for their role and expertise, and as a valued partner in contributing to, or leading on, key strategic digital transformation initiatives.
At a time when higher education institutions are faced by common challenges like financial sustainability, AI, cyber security, student recruitment and experience, digital capability and skills (as testified by the 2025 Jisc leadership survey), the need for libraries to “have a seat at the table” and contribute to cross-institutional strategic conversations is all the more pressing.
Pilot libraries intend to use the DTLL framework in a number of ways as a tool that supports their work and increases their agency by providing:
- a frame to describe library’s activities and how they contribute to institutional priorities
- a common language and source of real life examples
- a map of touch points with other departments and stakeholders
- a benchmark for current services and future offering
- a structured approach to support strategic conversations
- a basis for developing action plans, keeping focused on priority activities
- a critical friend
- a framework for change
The DTLL pilots
We look forward to working with the seven pilot institutions, their library teams and senior leadership sponsors over the next year: Aston University, Buckinghamshire New University, Edge Hill University, London Metropolitan University, Teesside University, the University of Glasgow and the University of Westminster.
Resources
- Taking digital transformation forward in your organisation – Jisc – toolkit
- Digital transformation library lens – Jisc
- Digital transformation library lens – DTLL framework
- DTLL Quick guide, a brief introduction to the lens
- DTLL briefing paper, a more descriptive summary of the lens
How to get involved
If you would like to keep in touch with the work of the DTLL programme and related areas, you can join our growing digital transformation library lens working group (JiscMail)
