walton library erika gwynnett medical librarian. drivers for change - physical clusters outside the...
TRANSCRIPT
Walton Library
Erika Gwynnett
Medical Librarian
Drivers for change - physical
Clusters outside the library/inadequate IT facilities
Compact shelving breaking the floor(!) Desk distant from entrance Only 2 tiny study rooms Staff accommodation split up
Drivers for change - institutional
Increased number of medical students Small increase in dental students with more
to come Changes in teaching and learning styles
“The library is very drab”
MBBS student
“Why is everything painted sludge green?”
Yr2 Biomedical Sciences student
The options
Relocate to ground floor
New build
Re-develop existing location
Planning
1st meeting – Sept 1996
Feasibility study – Sept 2002
Agreement to proceed – January 2003
Funding
HEFCE funding for additional student numbers
Capital project allocations “Headroom” (strategic development) funding £450K from Marjorie Robinson bequest
= £1.5m
What did we want?
Flexible proportion of space/study places Good noise management Increase study spaces Reduce periodical shelving More group rooms Disabled accessibility Better enquiry desk
What else did we want?
Informal areas – reading/café/toilets/sofas(!) Better IT – clusters, wireless, laptop stations NHS IT provision Better staff facilities
Making it happen
NO LIBRARY CLOSURE - AT ALL!!
- 5 phases
- spaced over 18 months
- starts June 2003, finish Sept 2004
- spaced to avoid assessment periods Pre-work
- lots of meetings with stakeholders
- lots of items into storage
“Any change, even a change for the better, is always accompanied by
drawbacks and discomfort”
Arnold Bennett
Problems
Noise Dirt and dust Diminishing services Loss of power/light/water ‘slippage’ Lack of control
Communicating with our users
Noticeboard with information and contact details
Good signage Newsletters
Problems
Overspend Overrun Snagging
What evolved…
Changes in practice Design no longer appropriate
Advice….
Don’t believe them!
Keep people informed
Allow for much longer for snagging
Advice…
Buy your staff lots of chocolate
Wear kevlar to work
Give up trying to do library work.
Congratulate yourselves!
Have a party!
The future
Finish the snagging list
Look more creatively at spaces
Experiment and recognise the need to change
Look after the virtual library
Thank you!