University Library Service – meeting the changing needs of the University community
1 September 2009
Artist's impression of the lower ground floor of the ASSL.
The University Library Service (ULS) has had a busy summer, with renovations and improvements taking place in four of the Libraries around Cardiff University.
The Arts and Social Studies Library (ASSL) has seen changes to its lower ground and top floor, which have been part-funded by the Wolfson Foundation. On the lower ground floor, Graphic Services has been relocated to the former bindery area, to create three group study / seminar rooms. This has also freed space for a new state-of-the-art 'E-Lounge' which is a wireless-enabled area with casual seating, power sockets for laptops, and some open access computers.
Also on the lower ground floor of the ASSL, Special Collections and Archives (SCOLAR) has been extended to provide mobile shelving and allow maximum use of space. Plasma screens will be installed around the building showing digital images of the SCOLAR collection, and there are also plans to install a touch screen kiosk with 'turning pages' software to enable users to view old and rare books.
On the top floor of the ASSL, most of the fixed shelving has been removed and replaced with compact mobile shelving, doubling its capacity, which has allowed the study spaces to be arranged more flexibly.
The Bute Library has been revamped to implement self service issue, return and RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) technology, and the layout at the entrance to the Library has been improved. By interfiling the Bute short loan collection in the main book collection, the entrance area can now accommodate the 'Bute curve' - the new RFID machines with a distinctive semi-circular footprint - and an area of informal seating aimed at laptop usage.
In the Architecture Library, self service issue, return and RFID technology has all been installed, and the entrance and office have been redesigned to make it a more user friendly space.
Self service issues, returns and RFID technology have also been implemented in the Biomedical Sciences Library.
"The developments that have taken place in these libraries during the summer have been driven by the wide-ranging Library Review," explained Janet Peters, Director of Libraries and University Librarian. "We are moving towards a 21st Century Library model, where we employ the latest technologies to improve services and save staff time to undertake new roles in supporting the information literacy and IT needs of our users. Where similar changes have already been made (in the Sir Herbert Duthie, Aberconway, Trevithick and Law Libraries) there has been a noticeable difference in the amount of time library staff can spend with our students and staff helping them to locate appropriate information and to support their research."
Janet concludes: "The Library Service is uniquely placed to provide high quality information and study environments to the University, and we have a responsibility to ensure that we continue to live up to the changing needs and expectations of the entire University community – students, researchers and staff. We hope very much that you think that our hard work over the summer has been worthwhile."
For more information on Cardiff University's Libraries, please visit the University Library Service website.