Living in two worlds: a library split in halves
Background
The idea to
redevelop and extend the Templeman Library at the University of Kent had been
floating around for quite some time. The project would provide a much needed
upgrade on the 1960s building which already saw a number of developments and
expansions over the last decades. After consultation with library staff in 2013
the management opted for a solution that would allow the building to remain
open and operating for the whole construction period but would also take
considerable longer and involve major stock and staff moves. Consequently the
Templeman redevelopment project was planned in 3 stages:
- Phase 1: The construction of a brand new extension on the Western end.
- Phase 2: Closure and overhaul of the middle section.
- Phase 3: Partial closure and overhaul of the East wing.
Phase 1
Phase 1 started
in the second half of 2013, and of the 3 stages this phase kept disruption to
an almost bearable level. Of course construction noises are not ideal for any
library, and some silent study areas were wisely moved away to the other end of
the building. The various drilling works could put some minor earthquakes put
to shame and occasionally made the odd book fell off a shelf. The part near the
new extension had to be emptied and closed in preparation for the
knock-through. Among other sections the entire core text/short loan collection
had to be moved, along with the loan desk and front line staff. We used parts
of the library café and a staff kitchen to provide the space needed.
Phase 2
Phase 2 (where
we currently are) is were the real disruptions and challenges started. With the
closure of the core section of the library we lost our spacious staff room and
staff toilets. Again, miles of shelves had to be moved by our stock control
team (who suffered the most from the changes and who, as a thank you, got
relocated to the basement without natural light and the company of fellow human
beings). Among the areas that had to relocate were Special Collections, the
British Cartoon Archive, the microfilm reading room plus equipment, our IT help
desk and other support services and the library café. The core text collection
and the loan desk were moved back to more or less their old location and form now,
along with a nice new café, the threshold between the existing and the new part
of the library. Our Special Collections and the British Cartoon Archive found a
temporary home in the new West wing. The move had to be delayed as we had some
serious flooding in the new basement which was about to house our Special
Collections archives. Luckily the basement was still empty at that time – or
parts of the archive would have been destroyed.
The closure of
the middle part means that we are currently running a library in two halves.
Instead of one main entrance we have now two separate entrances at opposite
ends of the building complete with security gates and welcome desks. The
collection is now split in the middle. Therefore sign posts have been put up
advising users that classmarks C-H are located in the East half and classmarks
A-B and J-Z are held in the West half. Support and shelfing services had to be
extended to the East wing which meant recruitment of additional staff. Some
teams have moved to the new extension as other teams remained in (or in some
cases relocated within) the old part. Some teams like mine are even split in
the middle. I am now based in the new extension (as I need access to the loan
desk and post room) while the rest of my team stayed behind. That means plenty
of physical exercise and planning ahead for meetings and visits as it takes
several minutes to walk from one end to the other. Luckily we provide free
brollies for users and staff at both exits (hopefully to be returned at the
other end) so people can have a dry journey. In order to send books and other
items to and fro, our facilities management team run an hourly trolley service
between both parts. Ironically our self return/book sorter has (temporarily) been
moved into the furthest section of the new extension while there are no
physical books in this part of the building. On the other hand this seems to be
the only possible space for such a monster, and there are of course books in
the adjacent part (the former West wing, remember: classmarks A-B and J-Z,
which also houses our core text collection and loan desk) so I suppose it makes
sense.
Obviously all
this is a small price to pay in exchange for a shiny new extension (and
eventually a completely overhauled and refurbished library). We have four
floors full of brand new study areas, seminar rooms and offices, exhibition
space and a large lecture theatre on the ground floor as you can see for
yourself:
Phase 3
We are hoping
that work on the central part will be completed by the middle of 2017. After
that the East wing will get a complete overhaul: redecoration, refurbishing,
new windows etc. It is very likely that staff will again be relocated in order
to carry out the necessary work in the office spaces. Also student study and
computer facilities will have to be closed during that period. However, by that
time alternative spaces will be available in the remaining parts of the
library.
I am sure
everyone is looking forward to the end of the project (although I have to
confess I quite like my brand new temporary office which will at some point be
a seminar room). The new West extension with its 500 study spaces is very
popular and well used, and we could already do with another one (maybe a North
extension?). For the time being, however, we are split in the middle so please
bear with us if you have requested anything with classmark C-H as I need to
fetch these kind of items from the other side.
Matthias Werner
(Photos courtesy of Angela Kennett)
