Plans have been unveiled by Oxford University for a £100 million scheme to create a library system for the 21st century.
The plans include major redevelopment of the New Bodleian and the Radcliffe Science Libraries, a new depository site and the creation of a New Humanities Library on the site of the old Radcliffe Infirmiry. The plans are to be put before the congregation next month.
Fears for the safety of the 8.25 million volumes of books that would be affected in the change stem from warnings of flood risks, leading Professor James Howard-Johnston, a fellow of Corpus Christi College, to describe the plans as “lunacy” in the Oxford Times. In order to protect the books, they will be stored at the Osney Mead depository site, which Roland Milne, Acting Director of the Oxford University Library Service told Cherwell is above the level that floods have reached over the past 100 years.
Milne stated that they would attempt to keep the distribution of books to a minimum, an estimated twelve deliveries per day, in order to prevent an increase of congestion in the city centre. Milne hopes that the new Humanities Library would provide “much improved facilities” and conditions for students. He cited the example of the Theology Library on St Giles, which is “very cramped”, and “not really good enough.” With the new libraries he said there would be “more books on open shelves”, “longer opening hours” and more access to electronic resources.
Milne described the current university system as “the best library system in the country” but that improvements were always necessary. Currently the University rents commercial storage in places as far away as Cheshire, which Mr Milne notes is “not a capital investment.” He said the new site would give the University “growth space” and added that high use stock will remain in central Oxford. He said that the changes should not affect the amount of time the library takes to fetch a book from the stacks.
The plans for the construction of the humanities library will mean the closure of smaller departmental libraries such as the History Faculty and Oriental Institute. Last term, OUSU launched an online survey to get students’ views on the centralisation proposals for libraries outlined in the Establishment review. 1585 students completed the survey. 46.8% of students either opposed or strongly opposed the plans to merge the humanities and arts libraries and 15.7% agreed with the proposals.
When asked about the new Social Science library students felt that opening hours had improved but a majority believed that the availability of books had not changed. A majority of students (78.8%) said that they would prefer to work in historic Oxford libraries than more modern libraries. Commenting on the OUSU Library survey Ronald Milne said “I love historic buildings too” but also stated that the Old and New Bodleian as well as the Radcliffe Camera will remain part of the library system as reading rooms. “We have to provide new facilities, some libraries are not acceptable.”
OUSU President Emma Norris said the plans “seem like a very good idea because the current site is at breaking point”. She added that the off-site depository system has “worked fine.”
A committee will meet with the Curators of the Universities Libraries in 6th week to discuss the findings of the survey, Charlynne Pullen, VP Access and Academic Affairs, told Cherwell her main aim was to ensure that “students can get access to the books they need and that the University can make them accessible for longer.”
Professor James Howard-Johnston, a fellow of Corpus Christi College who had spoken against the original plans, has since described the new published plans as “a very great improvement.” Professor Howard-Johnston also stated that there should be “maximum consultation” about the amalgamation of smaller libraries as the closure of the Commonwealth Studies Library was “viewed as damaging academically.”
Professor Howard-Johnson concluded by saying that “I haven’t completely made up my mind” about the proposals, expressing concerns about the expense and logistical problems of transferral to the Osney Mead site. “If the cost is reasonable it should get the go-ahead” he added.ARCHIVE: 0th week MT 2005
Library expansion proposals compromised by flood concerns
