The new University of Stirling Library was formally opened Friday 4th March by His Royal Highness the Earl of Wessex KG KCVO, in a lively ceremony attended by donors, staff and students.
The Earl unveiled a plaque to mark the occasion, after touring the stunning contemporary setting which was created by the University’s £11 million investment.
On arrival at the Library he was welcomed by Professor Gerry McCormac, Principal and Vice-Chancellor, and was introduced to the many staff and donors who had made the project possible. Shown around the building, he also met a number of students, including young entrepreneurs in the Enterprise Zone, one of the many distinctive features of the inspirational environment.
A vibrant dance and music performance by students from the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Dance led up to the formal ceremony.
Professor McCormac said: “A library should stimulate and inspire, and be the beating heart of a research intensive university such as ours. This stunning contemporary study space underlines our commitment to provide our students with a first class learning experience.” He paid tribute to the many benefactors and donors, and made it clear that the University would continue to grow and develop, adding: “This is not just about today, we have ambitious plans to enhance the quality of life at Stirling by creating a leading centre for educational engagement.”
Ross Main, Vice President of the Students’ Union, then spoke on behalf of students at Stirling when he said: “The amount of work that has been put into this task has been phenomenal. This library, in these surroundings, makes the University of Stirling a more amazing place for students to come and learn, meet friends for life, and become the adults their parents want them to be. I’m so proud to say that I went to the University of Stirling.”
The Earl of Wessex complimented the University of Stirling on the Library, and compared the learning environment favourably to his own experiences as a History student at Cambridge, before unveiling the plaque.
Click on the link below for a gallery of photos from the event.
Following its refurbishment, the University Library will be formally opened by His Royal Highness the Earl of Wessex KG KCVO on Friday 4 March 2011.In preparation for the event the Library and some adjacent areas will close at 8pm on Thursday 3 March and will re-open at 3pm on Friday 4 March. Admission to the opening ceremony is by invitation only.
Alternative study arrangements
QUIET STUDY ROOMS
Thurs 3rd March 1900-2200: Rooms 2A9 and 2A11
Fri 4th March 0900-1500: Rooms 2B44 and 2B45
COMPUTING LABS http://labstats.stir.ac.uk//lab.html
Cottrell 1A11, 1A13, 2A15, 2A17, 2A21, 2B41, 2B43, 2Y8. Pathfoot G10.
PRINT SUITES
2A18 Cottrell, G10 Pathfoot
Access to our online resources including the A-Z list of online resources and the library catalogue will continue to be available via the portal https://portal.stir.ac.uk
ENQUIRIES
The Information Centre will be closed to personal callers but we hope to provide a basic email and phone service on Friday 4th March. Due to staff involvement in the opening and limitations due to events taking place in the Library, we will be running a very basic phone service with only one line for Library enquiries (01786 466620) and one line for IT enquiries (01786 467250). Given these restrictions can we please ask that you email us unless your enquiry is urgent. Our email contact details are:
• Lending enquiries (borrowing, renewing books etc): circ@stir.ac.uk
• Library enquiries (how to use our online resources etc): library@stir.ac.uk
• IT enquiries: infocentre@stir.ac.uk
RETURNING BOOKS DURING THE CLOSURE PERIOD
There will be a book return bin placed in the Student Union office while the library is inaccessible.
SHORT LOAN COLLECTION – EXTENDED LOAN PERIOD
24 hour loan books taken out on Thursday 3rd March will be due for return on Monday 7th March.
We apologise for any inconvenience but hope that staff and students will understand how important it is for the University to formally record its appreciation to the many donors who have made the project possible.
Information Services
From Monday 22nd November – Sunday 19th December, the Library’s opening hours will be extended to 2am every night including weekends.
24-hour study accommodation will also be made available in Cottrell 4W1 and 4W6 from 1800 from Tuesday 30th November until Sunday 19th December. This extension is for quiet study for exams.
David Gardiner
Manager, Library & IT Enquiry Services
Use
The overall use made of the new Library has increased dramatically over the last year of the old-style Library. During October 2008 69,118 people entered the Library. During October 2010, the figure was 95,243.
Accessibility
We conducted an accessibility tour before the library opened, and are working to address the issues raised. The Library entrance and security gates are easily accessible to wheelchair users. There was some confusion over the glass gate controlled from the reception point, but this is not intended or necessary for wheelchair access. Height-adjustable tables have now been delivered and installed in study areas, and on one of the printer/copiers. Door closures have been adjusted in group study to make opening easier. There is an on-going problem with the exit doors from the smoke lobbies at the lift entrances. ECS are investigating the feasibility of providing assisted opening as elsewhere on campus, but these are not yet in place.
Study areas
Group study rooms have proved very popular, and the booking system is now in place so they can be reserved either at the room or on the web. A-V facilities are now up and running in five of these rooms. See Group Study Rooms for further information.
Some complaints have been received about noise on the study levels. We have moved a few items of furniture around to try to keep the single-occupancy study desks away form the larger tables. This will help to establish areas where silent working is expected.
Silent study area on level 4
We will continue to observe the use made by students of the different areas in the Library with the intention of supporting that use. This is intended to ensure provision of different study environments (including silent study) to suit different users at different times.
Food and drink (link to policy)
The policy of allowing food (with the exception of hot, smelly or otherwise distracting items) has proved popular in that many students are taking advantage of it. It does however present a challenge to the cleaning and janitorial staff in dealing with spillage and waste. This has improved with the introduction of many more recycling bins, but requires the support of students in clearing their own litter, making proper use of the recycling bins and in particular the emptying of liquid containers down a sink before placing in a bin.
Library stock
Not all the stock is currently housed in the Library. Everything in the Long Loan Collection from MV onwards to Z is currently housed in store. If you want access to any of this material please just request it from Store using the Library catalogue.
Catalogue link to request item from store
David Gardiner
Manger, Library and IT Enquiry Services
The target date for opening the new Library building on Stirling Campus is Monday 30 August 2010. The building has now been handed back to the university and we have the summer to finish off the inside and move books, equipment, services and staff.
Most of this work will be happening in the background throughout the summer, but we will need to close the Interim Library from Wednesday 25 August to allow us to reopen in the new building on Monday 30 August. During this period, the interim library stock and the services will be relocated.
We hope that this will not cause too much inconvenience and please let us know if there are any particular groups of students or staff who could be affected by this closure period.
The Study Zone (temporary building next to Library) will remain open up until the new library opens.
You can see pictures of the Library on our facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/pages/University-of-Stirling-New-Library-Project/52701324641?v=box_3
When the Library is open there will be a regular tours for anyone who is interested.
Stirling University Library
library@stir.ac.uk
Information Services values the opinions of our users so we are currently conducting a satisfaction survey. We hope to learn from you what you think of our many services, and also to gather any suggestions for improvement of services. We are responsible for many of the services and resources you use every day, including the portal, email, the Libraries, WebCT, student labs and lecture theatres, CampusNet and more.
All comments will be treated anonymously.
All staff and students can choose to be entered into our prize draw and will have the chance to win one of the following:
1st prize: Samsung Netbook 10.1″
2nd prize: iPod Touch 8GB
3rd prize: iPod Nano
CLICK HERE TO START THE SURVEY (enter your networkusername and password to login)
OR
LOGON TO THE PORTAL > SELECT WEBCT > INFORMATION SERVICES SATISFACTION SURVEY
More info on the survey and the prizes is available on the IS website at http://www.is.stir.ac.uk/survey/
The target date for opening the new Library building on Stirling Campus is Monday 30 August 2010.
In order to achieve this we will have to move books, equipment, service desks and staff. The Library Programme Board has approved the decision to close the interim library from Wednesday 25 August and re-open in the new building on Monday 30 August. It is considered that this will keep the inevitable disruption to a minimum.
Note that the following services will remain available during the closure period.
• A-Z online resources – if you need to do literature searching
• Library catalogue – if you need to check references
• Study zone and rooms in 4W corridor – if you need to study
• 2Y5 computing lab – if you need to use a pc
Thanks
Lisa Haddow
_____________________________________
Project Manager
Three week delay in construction, but it is still anticipated opening the new library building on time at the beginning of September. This was the main message at February’s Library Programme Board (the group which oversees the library transformation project).
It was reported that the building contractor is working hard to recover the time lost, resulting from the bad weather this winter, and at times there have been 120 operators on site. As relationships between the construction company and the University are reported to be good, all are working together to try and catch up the lost time.
Sample items of the proposed furniture for the new building have begun arriving on campus and in the next couple of weeks these will be available for members of the University to inspect and try out.
The Board also heard that there had been recently a number of large donations to the fund raising programme for the library transformation project and the Board expressed its thanks to all those who have made donations.
The project remains on budget.
The interim library service continues to be operating successfully with few major problems reported. On Tuesday March 2 the Director of Information Services will be in Group Study Room One between 10 am and 11 an to hear your views and comments on how the interim library service is running.
Planning is now turning to activities that need to be undertaken once the constructors “hand back” the building before full library services can resume and the service arrangements in the new building. There will be a number of new services and enhancements to existing ones and there is much detailed planning to be done between now and the end of the summer to ensure that these are in place in time.
As part of the Interim Service, the Science Reference material had been made available in Cottrell in the SBES resource centre. The Resource Centre has now moved location and the Science Reference material, including paper copies of Nature and Science have followed to Cottrell 3B160.
Lisa Haddow
Science Librarian
Information Services has released a newsletter on the New Library project which includes an update on the New Library project; information about extended library opening hours and tips to help you get the most from the Interim library service. Click here to view the newsletter
Our Facebook page is regularly updated and includes photos of the Library before and during the early stages of the building work – this will be added to as the project progresses.
To find us on Facebook, search for ‘University of Stirling New Library Project’ or follow this link: http://www.facebook.com/pages/University-of-Stirling-New-Library-Project/52701324641
Information Services
http://www.is.stir.ac.uk/newlibrary/index.php