Diversity Group
Diversity Surveys 2026 now live
The M25 Consortium Diversity Group are conducting their biennial diversity survey and would really appreciate M25 member library colleagues taking the time to complete it. We are seeking to understand more about the impact of initiatives and practices that address issues of inequality within member libraries.
This year there are two surveys:
Main survey
The main survey is open to all staff, working at all levels, within M25 Consortium libraries.
M25 Consortium Diversity Survey (Main) – Fill in form
Directors/Heads of Service
The link below is for the Director/Heads version. It allows us to ensure that we are getting at least one response per member institution. It is mainly factual questions about your library/institution
M25 Consortium Diversity Survey (Directors and Heads) – Fill in form
The surveys will be open until the end of September 2026.
2025 Report on Survey on Diversity Initiatives in Libraries and Institutions
The Diversity Group have published the survey report from the 2024 survey to look at diversity initiatives in member institutions.
Although it is difficult to make direct comparisons to the 2022 survey, due to the
change in focus to a more intersectional one, there have been signs of positive movement
within the sector:
- Awareness: There has been a growth in respondents knowing whether there is an EDI group or representative for EDI within the library, from 50% in 2022 to 71% in 2024.
- Digital Presence: Although not a direct comparison, there looks to be positive changes taking place with institutions digital presence catering for and engaging with the diversity of the institution’s population. This was 80% for 2024 compared to 62% in 2022 (though 2022 was limited to social media).
- Recruitment: There was a high percentage of institutions taking positive action in relation to recruitment, with 67% using 3 or more actions.
- Confidence to raise EDI issues: Although still at less than 50%, there has been a growth in respondents noting that they were ‘very confident’ or ‘confident’ in raising EDI issues and these being dealt with appropriately at institution level. A rise from 38% in 2022 to 49% in 2024.
Case studies and resources page
Diversity Group members
To join the group or find out more, please email Cliff Van Dort at cliff.vandort@nationalarchives.gov.uk.
Applicants must work in an M25 member library and can be from any library role or level of experience.
Current members
- Co-Chair: Cliff Van Dort, The National Archives
- Co-Chair: Erika Delbecque, UCL Library Services
- Matthew Barrow – House of Commons
- Josie Caplehorne – Canterbury Christ Church University
- Caroline Marwein – House of Commons
- Ella Mitchell – Middlesex University
- Polly Mortimer – British Psychotherapy Foundation
- Debbie Phillips, Royal Holloway, University of London
- Jane Rosen – Imperial War Museums
- Katie Winter, University of Surrey
Steering Group Sponsor:
- Davina Omar, University of West London
About us
The group was convened in 2019 as a Task and Finish Group and in June 2024 became a full Working Group of the Consortium.
Diversity Group’s Terms of reference
Diversity: one of the four themes of M25 Consortium’s 2023-2026 Strategy
Read about the M25’s commitment to inclusion and diversity in the Statement on Values and Inclusion