Library Collections Project 2009-2013

We are reorganising the Library’s collections and some of our spaces. The Collections Project is re-profiling Library collections to better meet our users’ current and future needs.

For the latest developments, see Collections Project entries on the University Library news blog.

Aims

Our aim is to create a single, well-maintained and spacious Library on the Whiteknights campus which best serves the needs of all our users

  • Make sure the Library’s collections of books, journals, and electronic resources serve the needs of all students and researchers
  • Provide more study spaces 
  • Provide easy access to the most needed books and journals (and also to lesser-used material - from storage or through reciprocal networks) 
  • Improve the layout of the collections and the signs so that the Library is as easy to use as possible
  • Increase access to electronic sources of information when possible
  • Provide better long-term protection for stored books
  • Integrate the Bulmershe Collection by September 2013

Background

Student sitting at a desk by some shelves

  • In 2008, the University Library was over 80% full. Since then, we have reduced this to 74%. Work is underway to create even more expansion space for new acquisitions.
  • Bulmershe Library has closed and the stock moved to Whiteknights. We aim to integrate the Bulmershe Collection by 2013. 
  • More user study areas are requested by students.
  • To make printed collections better meet the needs of students and researchers, we resolved to: 
    - keep readily accessible most-used texts and research material on open shelves
    - acquire a new University Off-site Store to house lesser-used research material off-site
    - remove less heavily used items.
  • We want to make the Library easier to use by improving collection layouts and guidelines.   

Stages of the Project

Action

Timescale

Keep the Collection Development Policy and statements for specific subject areas current

1st update: Completed Spring Term 2009.
Next update: Spring 2012

Closure of Bulmershe Library and the transfer of Bulmershe Collection to Whiteknights

Completed Summer 2011

Acquire and prepare a new Off-site Store for lesser-used books and journals

Secured 2010; Operational in 2011

Devise and implement a retrieval service from the Off-site Store 

Operational from Spring 2011 

Make decisions on which books and journals can be relegated to closed access storage (and which can be withdrawn) in order to remove unwanted or low use books and journals from the open access shelves 

Started 2009, ongoing  

Move underused material to the new Off-site Store

From Spring 2011

Assimilate Bulmershe Collection

By September 2013

Increase study spaces at Whiteknights, including returning the 2nd and 4th Floor Reading Rooms to their original function by removing shelving

By September 2013

Simplify Library-wide layout into an easily understandable, sequential order 

 By end 2013 

 

How the Collections Project affects you

  • All academic staff will be affected to some extent by the Project as teaching, study and research materials are reviewed.
  • We’re planning to keep disruption to Library services as minimal as we can. However, you may notice occasional stock moves taking place and temporarily empty shelves. Please ask at an Information Desk if you need help finding things.
  • We encourage School and Department Heads, and Library Representatives to promote the Project to colleagues. 
  • Academic staff will be consulted on relegation of materials to closed access storage and on material to be withdrawn. You may be asked to make decisions on selected items by your department’s liaison librarian and Library representative.
  • It is easy to ask for material which is now kept at the Off-site Store. See Requesting items from Store and Closed Access collections for details.

Frequently asked questions

1 What are the criteria for relegating material to closed access storage?

Broadly, we will consider for relegation material we need to keep indefinitely for teaching and/or research, but which is underused or unsuitable for open shelves. Details are in the general Collection Development Policy and statements for specific subject areas.

2 How long will it take to see relegated material?

Those books and journals in closed access at Whiteknights can be made available the next working day. Items held at the Off-site Store are collected twice a week. See Requesting items from Store and Closed Access collections for details.

3 What are the criteria for withdrawing material?

These are outlined in the Library’s general Collection Development Policy and statements for specific subject areas.

4 What happens to withdrawn books?

In line with our general Collection Development Policy, material is offered to Library users via the book sale, second-hand dealers, other libraries or charities; or it is recycled

5 Are journals included in the review process?

Journals are being reviewed as part of the Collections Project. However, a slightly different approach is being taken through our membership of the UK Research reserve (UKRR), a collaborative distributed national research collection. UKRR aims to permit libraries to de-duplicate their holdings of a title if two copies are held by other members, whilst preserving guaranteed access via the British Library’s Inter-Library loan scheme.

6 Why did Bulmershe Library close?

The University is planning to withdraw academic activity from Bulmershe Court and in 2006 asked the University Library to create a single Library service on the Whiteknights campus as soon as is practicable.

Collections Project news archive

Contacts

For more information on the Collections Project and information about progress contact:

Back to Library news

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