M25 SpeedMeet
Welcome to M25 SpeedMeet and Spotlight. Every month we meet someone working in an M25 member institution or someone involved with an M25 Consortium Group, Network, or Committee. They tell us a little bit about themselves and how the Consortium has benefited them.
March 2026: Louise Savage
Who are you, where are you based and what do you do?
I’m Louise Savage, the Collections Coordinator within the Collections Transformation team at King’s College London (KCL). I coordinate the activities of the Collections Transformation team and work alongside the managers and other teams within Libraries & Collections at KCL to coordinate the management and preservation of our libraries’ print resources, overseeing life-cycle collection management procedures around processing, storage and the sustainable withdrawal of items.
What do you enjoy most about your job?
It sounds very cliched, but rarely are two days ever the same, which can bring its own challenges too and you often have to think on your feet in the case of an unforeseen event. But, I enjoy the opportunity to work at different sites (there are seven libraries at King’s College London), in different spaces, and discover on a daily basis interesting and sometimes long-forgotten items within these spaces.
Conversely, I enjoy the flexibility of my role in that I can work from home and on site and thus prioritise and plan my work location and work activities accordingly.
What motivates you in your work?
I like to discover new items within our collection and having the opportunity to coordinate and complete worthwhile space organisation projects, which enable items to be discoverable and accessible to our users. Plus, it is quite satisfying to be part of and coordinate projects related to the weeding of items that are no longer suitable for our users and seeing them being sustainably withdrawn in the hope of gaining new readership elsewhere.
How has the M25 Consortium supported you in your career?
The M25 Consortium gave me the opportunity to present a Lightning Talk at last year’s Conference. I was also able to attend the whole Conference and listen to some insightful and motivating talks. The event was also good for networking, especially as it was held in-person at the beautiful University of Greenwich. I have also attended visits to other member libraries which have been arranged by CPD25.
What would it surprise people to know about you?
I try to keep it under wraps at work, but since adopting Willow, an ex-racing greyhound two-and-a-half years ago, I’m not afraid to admit that I am a bona fide ‘Dog Mum’ and am obsessed with all things sighthound– and longdog-related.
My weekends are regularly taken up by group greyhound walks in the Surrey and Sussex countryside, and my hard-earned wages pay to keep Willow in the safe and secure life she is now accustomed to (quite frankly, her wardrobe is better than mine!)
If I wasn’t working in a library I would
be the owner of a greyhound rescue and rehoming centre. I told you I was obsessed!
What’s your role?
We’re keen to meet even more members so if you’d like to feature in an upcoming M25 SpeedMeet or Spotlight send an email to Jill Howard, m25libadmin@london.ac.uk. You can send in your replies to our questions or alternatively video your answers and we’ll show the video here.
Read more SpeedMeet interviews :
2026
January: Steve Briggs Director of Learning, Teaching, and Libraries, University of Bedfordshire
February: Mary Blomley, Open Research Librarian, University of West London
2025
Lydia Harris, Collections Manager at King’s College London
Alison Mackenzie, Research Support Librarian, RHS Libraries
Natalie Brown, Library Customer Services Team Leader, Anglia Ruskin University
Eloise Carpenter, Collection Services Manager at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine
Leah Gulley, Academic Liaison Librarian, Buckinghamshire New University
Dr Janice Fernandes former Academic Support Manager, University of West London
Helen Curtis, Director of Learning Resources and University Librarian at Oxford Brookes University
Dan Herbert, Library Buildings Development Manager, Queen Mary, University of London
Polly Mortimer, Library Manager and Learning Support Lead, British Psychotherapy Foundation
Ian Clark, Academic Services Manager, University of East London
2024
Chris Foreman, Associate Director of Library Services at University of the Arts, London
Vicky Robertson, Deputy Librarian, UCL School of Pharmacy Library
Laura Scullion, Administrator (Events & Programmes), M25 Consortium of Academic Libraries
Dave Puplett, Associate Director, Libraries and Academic Enhancement, University of Greenwich
Fiona Ainsworth, Head of Library and Archives at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
Dianne Shepherd, The British Museum, Senior Librarian
Jill Howard, M25 Consortium of Academic Libraries, Operations Manager
Cliff Van Dort, National Archives, Kew, Head of Library
Camilla Churchill, British Medical Association, Library and Archive Lead
Chloe Carson-Ashurst, The National Gallery, Library Assistant
2020-2023
Birgit Fraser, Anglia Ruskin University, Assistant Director – Academic and Content Services
Sarah Pipkin, UCL – Outreach and Exhibitions Coordinator, Special Collections Library
Anna Gillis, Royal Veterinary College – Research Support Librarian
Rachel Geeson, Anglia Ruskin University – Assistant Director, Customer Services
Jennifer Domingo, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine – Library Assistant
Emma Wisher, University of Essex – Assistant Director for User Engagement
Louise Ellis-Barrett, British Museum – Librarian Acquisitions and Projects
Paul Johnson, University of Surrey – Director of Library and Learning Services
Sara Burnett, Kingston University – Information Specialist
Robert Atkinson, Birkbeck, University of London – Director of Library Services
Laura MacCulloch, Royal Holloway, University of London – Curator
Rowan Williamson, UAL – Associate Director of Library Services and Support
Frances Willis, National Art Library at the V&A – Assistant Librarian
Robin Armstrong Viner, Courtauld Institute of Art – Head of Library Services
Adam Edwards, Middlesex University – Library Liaison Manager
Linda Coombs, Buckinghamshire New University – Library and Learning Resources Manager
Liz Pinel, Royal College of Nursing Library and Archive – Customer Services Manager
David Allen, Royal Society of Chemistry – Librarian
Russell Burke, LSHTM – Assistant Librarian
Verity Allison, St George’s, University of London – Journals and E-Resources Librarian