The UK Web Archive (UKWA) is a collaborative initiative by the UK Legal Deposit Libraries—the British Library, National Library of Scotland, National Library of Wales, Bodleian Libraries, Oxford, Cambridge University Library and the Library of Trinity College Dublin – to collect, preserve, and provide access to UK websites.
The British Library UKWA team is seeking to procure a study to deepen its understanding of user needs to improve and expand its services in line with modern expectations. The researcher will be expected to investigate previous studies of user needs and behaviours, identify challenges and opportunities in accessing web archive content, and produce actionable insights. The outcomes of this work will directly inform future service design for the UK Web Archive.
Timeline:
– Invitation for quotes published: Tuesday 27th May 2025
– Deadline for responses: Tuesday 8th July 2025
– Decision to appoint researcher: Friday 25th July 2025
– Research study start date: August-September 2025
– Delivery of final report and presentation: November-December 2025
Proposal requirements:
Researchers should respond with:
– A clear cost estimate
– A proposed schedule with the expected date of completion
– A brief outline of the approach to the project
– Examples of previous relevant work
Proposals will be evaluated against the following criteria:
1. Ability to meet the requirements in the brief
2. Proposed delivery schedule or timetable
3. Total cost/value for money
Enquiries and/or quotes should be submitted to:
Nicola Bingham
Lead Curator, Web Archiving, British Library