Academic Libraries North
Academic Libraries North is a UK non-profit consortium of 33 higher education libraries in northern England delivering collaborative activities, conferences, staff development, Special Interest Groups, Communities of Practice, mentoring, and EDI grant funding for its member institutions.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded-
- Headquarters—
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Academic Libraries North does
Academic Libraries North (ALN) is a UK non-profit consortium of 33 higher education libraries across northern England that provides collaborative activities and mutual support for its member institutions. Its service portfolio comprises an annual conference (ALN26 drew 269 delegates), a Staff Development Programme with structured Skill Up sessions, Thriving in Your Career events for UK Ethnic Minority colleagues, five Special Interest Groups (Accessibility, Learning Spaces, Research Support, Service Engagement & Impact, Special Collections & Archives), eight Communities of Practice (Academic Skills, Copyright, Metadata & Linked Data, User Experience, etc.), a Mentoring Scheme, the Frontline Forum, and the EDI Innovation Fund offering up to £1,000 per project. All website materials are released under Creative Commons BY-NC-SA 4.0.
The technology underpinning ALN's operations is intentionally lightweight and non-proprietary: a WordPress website accessibility-checked against W3C/WAI guidelines, with Eventbrite and Ticket Tailor for event ticketing, JiscMail for mailing lists, SurveyMonkey for feedback, and Microsoft Teams for virtual events. No mobile app, API, SDK, or AI capability is disclosed; ALN is positioned as a coordinating body rather than a technology vendor. Administrative infrastructure is delivered through affiliation with SCONUL (Society of College, National and University Libraries), with Development Managers reachable via [email protected].
Revenue is generated from member institution contributions (recurring subscription-like membership fees), event-related fees, and external sponsorship for conferences and programmes (e.g., EBSCO, Covidence, University of Leeds Libraries). Pricing is not publicly disclosed. Marketing and member engagement run through Bluesky, Instagram, LinkedIn, a Weekly Update email newsletter, and the WordPress site. Select customers and partners span UK higher education libraries and adjacent library-service bodies such as NHS Knowledge and Library Services, the National Acquisitions Group, EBSCO, and Covidence.
Academic Libraries North firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Academic Libraries North
- Legal name
- Academic Libraries North
- Website
- https://academiclibrariesnorth.ac.uk
- Company type
- Private
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Academic Libraries North is a UK non-profit consortium of 33 higher education libraries in northern England delivering collaborative activities, conferences, staff development, Special Interest Groups, Communities of Practice, mentoring, and EDI grant funding for its member institutions.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Academic Libraries North industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Library consortium services
- NAICS
- Libraries and Archives (51921), Educational Services (611)
- SIC
- Services-Membership Organizations (8600)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Academic & Research Library Operations (College/University Libraries) (EDAEAGAB)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Digital Library & Electronic Resources Operations (e-Resources, Repositories, Licensing) (EDAEAGAF), Interlibrary Loan (ILL) & Resource Sharing Operations (EDAEAGAK), Group Work, Breakout & Collaborative Document/Workspace Tools (EDAFAGAE)
Keywords
Academic Libraries North business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Membership fees: ALN operates as a consortium of 33 higher education libraries in the north of England. Funding comes from member institution contributions, event fees, and external sponsorship for events and programs.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels8 records
Academic Libraries North product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Academic Libraries North (ALN) is a non-profit consortium of 33 higher education libraries in the north of England that delivers collaborative activities, staff development programmes, conferences, Special Interest Groups, and Communities of Practice. Members participate through institutional membership and gain access to events, resources (UX Toolkit, Mental Health & Wellbeing Advocacy Resource, Sensory Spaces Resources, Learning Spaces Resources), a Mentoring Scheme, the Frontline Forum, the EDI Innovation Fund (up to £1,000 per project), and the Skill Up with ALN series.
Product overview
Academic Libraries North (ALN) is a consortium of 33 higher education libraries in northern England that provides collaborative activities, mutual support, and professional development opportunities for its member institutions. ALN does not offer a technology product but rather functions as a coordinating body offering conferences, staff development programmes, Special Interest Groups, Communities of Practice, and grant funding (EDI Innovation Fund). The portfolio includes educational events (conferences, Skill Up sessions, Thriving in Your Career events), professional communities (UX Toolkit, Mental Health & Wellbeing Advocacy Resource, Learning Spaces resources), and collaborative networks (Special Interest Groups and Communities of Practice covering areas from accessibility to copyright to research support). The consortium also administers a mentoring scheme and Frontline Forum for frontline library staff.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- ALN Annual Conferences Annual conferences bringing together library professionals from the 33 member institutions for knowledge sharing, networking, and sector debate. ALN26 was themed 'Reimagining Openness in Academic Libraries' and delivered both online (119 delegates) and in-person (150 delegates) components.
- Staff Development Programme Annual programme of events, workshops, and training opportunities for library staff at member institutions, running across each academic year (e.g., 2025/2026, 2026/2027). Designed to support continuing professional development across the consortium.
- Special Interest Groups (SIGs) Ongoing themed groups covering Accessibility, Learning Spaces, Research Support, Service Engagement & Impact, and Special Collections & Archives, plus the ALN Leaders Network. SIGs provide sustained cross-institutional collaboration on specific library topics.
- Communities of Practice (CoPs) Ongoing collaborative communities covering Academic Librarians, Academic Skills, Copyright, Customer Services, Inter-Library Loans, Metadata & Linked Data, Partnership Development, and User Experience, where peer library staff share practice and solve shared problems.
- Skill Up with ALN Series A series of hour-long introductory sessions demystifying different library roles and areas with glossaries of key terms. Covers partnerships work, research support, academic librarians, acquisitions, and special collections.
- EDI Innovation Fund Small grants programme (up to £1,000 per project) funding EDI initiatives at member institutions, with funded projects including Neurodiverse Library Leaders, Library access for refugees, Inclusive Imaginations, and Human Library Events.
- ALN Mentoring Scheme Mentorship programme pairing library professionals for career development and peer support, with recruitment opening in waves and information sessions provided for prospective mentees.
- Frontline Forum Online community for library staff who work directly with users, providing peer networking, best practice sharing, and professional development opportunities for frontline colleagues.
- Mental Health & Wellbeing Advocacy Resource Shared resource providing guidance, case studies, policy context, and advocacy materials that member libraries can draw on for mental health and wellbeing work in academic library settings.
- UX Toolkit Shared toolkit of UX practice resources covering UX Prototyping, UX Ideation, UX Data Analysis, and UX Methodologies, available across the consortium membership.
- Sensory Spaces Resources Resources and guidance to support member libraries in creating sensory-friendly spaces for academic library users.
- Learning Spaces Resources Resources and guidance for designing and managing learning spaces in academic libraries, drawing on collective member experience.
- Thriving in Your Career Events Free face-to-face events for UK Ethnic Minority colleagues exploring career progression and navigating structural barriers, with career development workshops, keynote speakers, and lightning talks.
Quantifiable outcome
- 269 total delegates (119 online + 150 in-person) attended the ALN26 conference
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use Academic Libraries North
Customer profileNamed customers10 records
Segments1 record
Ideal customer profiles1 record
Academic Libraries North technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration6 records
Academic Libraries North partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- CovidencecoreCovidence is sponsoring the ALN Systematic Reviews Event (May 2026) hosted by Newcastle University. Covidence provides evidence synthesis software used in systematic reviews and is positioning itself within the ALN research support community.
- National Acquisitions Group (NAG)minorNAG partnered with ALN's Procurement Community of Practice to deliver a 'Skill Up with ALN – Introduction to Acquisitions' session (September 2025). This collaboration broadens the reach of both professional groups beyond their usual constituencies.
- ThinkCheck SubmitminorThinkCheck Submit is an initiative to raise awareness of trustworthy journals and publishers. ALN's Research Support Group collaborated with ThinkCheck Submit on an event about navigating scholarly communication and avoiding predatory publishers (December 2024).
- Scholarly Publishing in TransitionminorScholarly Publishing in Transition is an Austria-wide initiative working on predatory publishing and scholarly communication. They partnered with ALN's Research Support Group for the Austrian-UK Librarian Mash-Up event on predatory publishing (December 2024).
- EBSCOcoreEBSCO is a sponsor of the 'Thriving in Your Career' event for UK Ethnic Minority colleagues (July 2024), along with SCONUL and University of Leeds Libraries. As a major library resource provider, EBSCO's sponsorship indicates a strategic interest in the ALN network.
- University of Leeds LibrariescoreUniversity of Leeds Libraries co-sponsored the 'Thriving in Your Career 3' event in July 2024, providing lunch and refreshments. Leeds Libraries staff are active participants in ALN activities and contribute to event delivery.
- NHS Knowledge and Library ServicescoreNHS Knowledge and Library Services partnered with ALN's Service Engagement & Impact Group to co-host an online event on Value and Impact in Libraries (April 2024). This cross-sector partnership brings together healthcare and academic library perspectives on demonstrating library value.
- SCONUL (Society of College, National and University Libraries)coreSCONUL provides administrative infrastructure for ALN. The ALN Development Managers are contactable via [email protected]. ALN appears to operate as a special interest group or regional network under the SCONUL umbrella, leveraging SCONUL's broader network and resources for member libraries.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Academic Libraries North competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- OCLC: OCLC is a global library cooperative providing shared technology services, cataloging, and resource sharing infrastructure for academic libraries. Comparable as a collaborative services provider for academic libraries, though operating globally with proprietary technology offerings.
- JISC: JISC is the UK digital, data, and technology agency for higher education and research, providing shared infrastructure and services to academic libraries. Comparable as a shared services consortium serving higher education libraries, though at a much larger scale.
- SCONUL (Society of College, National and University Libraries): SCONUL is the UK-wide professional association for academic and research libraries and serves as ALN's administrative umbrella. Directly comparable structure as a membership organization for higher education libraries, with broader national scope.
- CARL (Canadian Association of Research Libraries): CARL is a Canadian association of major research libraries offering collaborative programs, advocacy, and shared services. Comparable national-scale library consortium model to ALN's regional approach.
- Association of Research Libraries (ARL): ARL is a North American association of research libraries providing similar consortium-style services, advocacy, and knowledge sharing. Comparable in structure and target audience (academic libraries) but operates at a much larger scale across different geographies.
Regional players
- Scottish Confederation of University and Research Libraries (SCURL): SCURL is a consortium of Scottish higher education libraries providing collaborative services and shared resources. Comparable consortium model to ALN, operating in a different UK region with similar member-driven activities.
- Welsh Higher Education Libraries Forum (WHELF): WHELF is a collaborative group of Welsh higher education libraries. Similar structure and mission to ALN as a regional UK academic library consortium, serving a different geographic territory.
Direct peers
- Research Libraries UK (RLUK): RLUK is a consortium of major UK research libraries providing collaborative services, shared resources, and advocacy. Most directly comparable to ALN as a library consortium operating across multiple institutions, though focused on research-intensive libraries.
- North West Academic Libraries (NoWAL): NoWAL is an academic library consortium serving institutions in the north west of England. Directly comparable to ALN as a regional UK academic library consortium with similar membership model and collaborative activities.
Others
- CONSER (Cooperative Online Serials): CONSER is a cooperative serials cataloging program used by academic libraries. Comparable as a collaborative infrastructure programme for academic libraries, though focused on a specific technical function rather than broader community support.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Academic Libraries North social profiles
Digital presenceAcademic Libraries North compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
Academic Libraries North financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Academic Libraries North leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Academic Libraries North funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Academic Libraries North M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Academic Libraries North
What does Academic Libraries North do?
Academic Libraries North (ALN) is a non-profit consortium of 33 higher education libraries in the north of England that delivers collaborative activities, staff development programmes, conferences, Special Interest Groups, and Communities of Practice. Members participate through institutional membership and gain access to events, resources (UX Toolkit, Mental Health & Wellbeing Advocacy Resource, Sensory Spaces Resources, Learning Spaces Resources), a Mentoring Scheme, the Frontline Forum, the EDI Innovation Fund (up to £1,000 per project), and the Skill Up with ALN series.
Is Academic Libraries North a public or private company?
Academic Libraries North is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Academic Libraries North founded?
Academic Libraries North was founded in -1. It employs 1 to 10 people.
How does Academic Libraries North make money?
One revenue line is on record: membership fees.
Who are Academic Libraries North's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are OCLC, JISC, SCONUL (Society of College, National and University Libraries), CARL (Canadian Association of Research Libraries) and Association of Research Libraries (ARL). Regional players are Scottish Confederation of University and Research Libraries (SCURL) and Welsh Higher Education Libraries Forum (WHELF). Direct peers are Research Libraries UK (RLUK) and North West Academic Libraries (NoWAL). CONSER (Cooperative Online Serials) is listed as an others.
Does Academic Libraries North have an API?
No public API is recorded for Academic Libraries North.
What industry is Academic Libraries North in?
Academic Libraries North's product category is Library consortium services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAEAGAB, Academic & Research Library Operations (College/University Libraries), with a secondary code of EDAEAGAF, Digital Library & Electronic Resources Operations (e-Resources, Repositories, Licensing). Its NAICS code is 51921 and its SIC code is 8600.