Changes in the research support landscape over the last ten+ years: reflections on the DARTS conference series 2005–2018

The ‘DARTS’ conferences began back in 2005, instituted by the South West branch of what was then the Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals’ University, College and Research (UC&R) Group (now ‘Academic and Research Libraries Group’ – ARLG) with the aim of providing a dedicated event for librarians and information professionals with an interest in research support. The topic had been covered as a one-day conference in the West Midlands, but there hadn’t been a research event in the south west, or anything residential. It seemed appropriate to put the ‘R’ back into UC&R!