Decolonisation in Cambridge libraries relates to all collections and most services. Further information about decolonisation activities and resources is available on the Decolonisation LibGuide. Please note that the LibGuide is under review following the winding up of the CUL Decolonisation Working Group (see below).

The Decolonising through Critical Librarianship Group have done a great deal of practical work on decolonisation. They regularly organise events, facilitating peer-learning and inviting speakers from the Cambridge libraries network. They have also put together a wide range of case studies and resources on Cataloguing and Classification, Collection Development, Special Collections and Information Literacy.

The remit of the Decolonisation Working Group (DWG) was “to formulate guidance and policy for decolonisation work within Cambridge libraries and commission specific pieces of work to help encourage and embed best practice” (from the group’s Terms of Reference). The group first formed in September 2020 and it met regularly until it was disbanded in 2025. The DWG aimed to lead by example by identifying and openly acknowledging areas of work while commissioning related projects that could at least start to tackle the issues identified. 

The DWG was made up of library and archive staff from across collegiate Cambridge.  It also had among its members representatives from outside the library sector; their presence as critical friends was crucial to help identify problems and solutions.  For example, the DWG had a representative from the Race Equality Network and several student and academic representatives. The CUL Decolonisation Working Group worked closely with the Decolonising through Critical Librarianship group, with a named representative for that group on the DWG.

You can read more on the DWG website (currently under review following the winding up of the DWG).