a summary of the features of phase I of the University of Aberdeen's new University Library.

1. From Stronghold to Threshold: a new Library for the University of Aberdeen16 June 2011 Chris Banks University Librarian & Director Library, Special Collections and Museums

2. “Good library buildings are success stories in which architects, librarians and planners work together to create happy endings that benefit users for decades” Librarian, City University, New York

3. A flagship new library which will Provide a purpose-designed environment for 21st century learning and study Provide a Home for our precious special collections and archives Maximise the research potential of the collections Open up the collections to a much broader public The Sixth Century campaign: investment in infrastructure Project aims

4. The best achievable study and research facilities for staff and students Proper discharge of our custodial responsibilities for our rare book and archival collections Opening up the collections to a wider public Transformation of the western side of the University Key Objectives

5. Danish firm, schmidt hammer lassen (shl) won the international competition to design the building They have a strong record of designing libraries and other cultural buildings Architects

6. Flexible facilities for multiple audiences Flexible spaces for seminars Quiet and silent spaces Spaces for collaborative work Technology rich with wired and wireless facilities Public exhibition gallery Purpose-built education and learning facilities Spaces for academic, public and corporate seminars and events

7. Opportunities Integration of library facilities in one building will facilitate integrated exploitation of the collections Inclusion of a dedicated exhibition space will facilitate: Interpretation of the collections Showcasing the University’s treasures (Library, Archive and Museum) Events for a broad range of audiences based around the collections and the exhibitions

8. Transformation of space from this:

9. To this:

14. The concept

15. Emphasis on study space and activity Varied study spaces Flexibility Public space Sustainable A building of architectural merit Key Elements

19. Responding to feedback

20. Power Students said we didn’t have enough. With the exception of a totally silent reading rooms on floors 4-6 we’ve powered up all desks!

21. Students said there weren’t enough. There are now four times as many in the new University Library Computers

22. Finding Books The footprint of QML and the fact that book sequences were split resulted in much dissatisfaction amongst students We’ve integrated all the various scattered sequences of books into a single numerical sequence which runs from 0xx on floor 7 to 9xx on the third floor.

23. we’ve had many comments about the difficulty of locating journals – they were scattered amongst the book collections In the new library all journals can be found on the second floor Using print journals

24. Collaborative working Students said that there weren’t suitable facilities for this. We’ve created 16 Co-Labs on floors 3-6. In these spaces up to 7 students can work together on presentations and the spaces are fitted with computers and wall-mounted plasma screens to facilitate this.

25. Students didn’t really like the fact that each book had to be opened up, and the barcode aligned to the red light – they found it fiddly and time consuming. No more! Now, simply take a pile of books to one of the new hi tech machines and issue them in a single go without any need to open them up individually. Self Issue

26. Book Return Students have had 24 hour book return on their request list for a long time. It is coming soon – we will be installing a state of the art book returns system which will even include a book sorting machine!

27. Students said it wasn’t open long enough. The cafe is now opening at 08:15 and will remain open until 20:00 on most days Cafe Opening Hours

28. Public space

29. Public Space

33. Design

34. The Atrium

41. Environmental considerations

42. Sustainability

43. Sustainability

44. Sustainability

45. Getting there

46. Activities

47. Cafe Scientifique Word Festival Sound Festival Composition prize Engagement with schools groups Exhibitions (currently only small exhibitions and dispersed across the campus) Building on the University’s existing cultural and science engagement strategies

49. Yes

50. Very

51. Yes

52. To come

53. Very

54. BREEAM Excellent

55. Yes

56. Very

57. Very1Macdonald, Andrew, “The Ten Commandments revisited: the qualities of good library space”, Liber Quarterly 16/2 (2006) -http://liber.library.uu.nl/publish/articles/000160/article.pdf

58. ….have “oomph”