Project Schedules

Library and Study Space Changes at KB During Summer 2012

During the Summer a number of interlinked projects at KB will take place:

Opening of the new KB Library
Redevelopment of KB Centre Floor 1
Reconfiguration of the Darwin Library upper floor
Closure of the Robertson and JCM Libraries and transfer of books to the KB Library
Transfer of Helpdesk services from the Darwin Library to the KB Library

The outcome will be the creation of three study areas;

The JCMB Learning and Teaching Cluster
The KB Library - KB Centre
The Darwin Learning and Teaching Cluster

KB Library

Moving of the newer book collection from Darwin, JCM, Robertson libraries: expected in mid-July
Library opening to users: expected late July/early August

KB Centre

Ground Floor:

Shop will remain open and the rest of the floor is being re-developed to provide study space, cycle stands, showers and lockers
Stairways and entrances will be redecorated and improved

Floor 1:

This floor is being re-developed to house:

The uCreate service (moving from the Darwin Library); the group study pods (moving down from Floor 3); new, reconfigurable study space with a mix of fixed and moveable furniture together with extensive power and wireless facilities; and a small number of fixed PCs
The design of this floor will complement the KB Library and the traditional open access individual PC spaces on the KB Centre upper floors
The floor is expected to open in late August

Floor 2:

There will inevitably be some noise on this floor as a result of the work being undertaken on the floor below
The computers on this floor will be upgraded later in June

Floor 3:

The computers on this floor will be upgraded in early June. There should be limited disruption due to noise from Floor 1 work

Darwin Library Lower Floor

No changes this Summer; all print collections will remain accessible
It will be re-branded as “KB Library Store”

Darwin Library Upper Floor

Study area in the Swann Building: will be redecorated during June, resulting in a temporary loss of this area for study
Books moved to the KB Library: expected in mid-July
Helpdesk services: expected to transfer to the KB Library in late July/early August
It will be re-branded “Darwin Learning & Teaching Cluster”
The vacated space will be furnished with a variety of types of seating, several staff offices will be converted to group study rooms, there will be one accessible study room
The 20 seat computer room in the Swann area: this will not be available in June, it will re-open in July, and will finally close in August when the PCs will move into other parts of the upper floor
In the longer term, it is proposed to introduce catering and to develop this floor to bring in more natural light and improve the quality of the space. This would complete the three catered study areas across the KB campus. Funding needs to be sourced during 2012, such that the work can be undertaken in Summer 2013

Robertson Library

Books will move to KB Library in mid/late July
Helpdesk services will transfer to the KB Library in late July/early August
Library will then close

JCM Library

Books will move to KB Library in mid/late July and the library will then close

Impact on users

Information Services staff will be working hard to minimise the impact on users:

Helpdesk services: at least one point will be maintained at all times
Study space and computers: information on a week by week availability will be made available in due course
Access to the book collections: will be maintained for much of the Summer, but will not be possible for several weeks in mid/late July as the books are packed, moved and then integrated into one collection. During this time, there will be free inter-library loans for books in the three collections
Access to journals and the older book collection on the Darwin lower floor: there will be no restriction on access during the Summer
uCreate services in the Darwin Library: there will be a reduced service in June (some machines will not be available) and no service in mid/late August (all machines are moved from Darwin Library to KB Centre)

Any questions?

Please contact the appropriate member of the Information Services Science & Engineering Consultancy Team:

Consultancy Team

Alternatively, please contact the Darwin Library Helpdesk:

IS Helpdesk

Darwin Library, Darwin Building, Kings Buildings

Phone: +44 (0)131 650 5784

Fax: +44 (0)131 651 6702

Email: IS.Helpdesk@ed.ac.uk

This article was published on May 16, 2012