UB2030
From 2026 to 2030, under the banner of UB2030, Ghent University Library is committing to a series of essential transitions. These changes form the foundation for a future-proof, high-quality, and flexible library operation.
Delivering tailored knowledge services for the UGent community
The University Library is evolving towards a model in which campus libraries function as knowledge and learning centres. Services will be organised at a cluster level (City, Middle, and South clusters), in line with the university’s future vision, where:
- Knowledge and learning centres focus on guidance, collaboration, and the experience surrounding learning and research.
- Lending libraries focus on the management of and access to physical collections, with the Book Tower serving as the central repository.
Library staff are evolving into knowledge experts who:
- guide students and researchers in information and research skills;
- provide support for education, Open Science, and data management;
- develop innovative learning environments and activities;
- facilitate collaboration.
A link in an open knowledge ecosystem
The University Library aims to play an active role in an open and fair knowledge landscape by:
- expanding its own digital infrastructure for the storage and management of research output, such as the Academic Bibliography, ensuring greater autonomy, sustainability, and control over data.
- investing in fair publishing models, such as repository-based Open Access and Diamond Open Access, where publishing remains free for both authors and readers.
In doing so, the library contributes to a fairer and more sustainable scholarly publishing system.
Connecting people through knowledge services
The University Library aims to play an active role in bringing people together around knowledge. This is achieved through:
- inspiring study and meeting spaces;
- activities, lectures, and community building;
- public outreach regarding heritage and collections.
Furthermore, the University Library positions itself as an open organisational network, where collaboration is central:
- within the university, across faculties and departments;
- with external and international partners;
- through multidisciplinary projects and innovative experiments.