fit for purpose: british library storage · 2017-12-18 · 7. british library centre for...

Fit for Purpose: British Library Storage Buildings of the Future

Deborah Novotny

Head of preservation

British Library

LIBER Architecture Group

14th–16th April 2010 Madrid

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Overview

Flagship at St.Pancras

New storage facility at Boston Spa – for monographs, low use material

New plans for a newspaper repository, again at Boston Spa

Cold storage facility for microfilm

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St. Pancras

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St. Pancras Reading Rooms

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King’s Library tower and LED lighting

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British Library Centre for Conservation (BLCC)

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British Library Centre for Conservation

2-stage design and build

3000 square metre

3-storey bespoke building

Construction started August 2005

Opened on time and on budget May 2007

Cost £13.25M (private and public funding)

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BLCC

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BLCC

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BLCC – conservation studio

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British library’s Strategy 2008 - 2011 : Strategic Priority 6

Key objectives:

Complete the new storage building at Boston Spa

Update BL property Strategy

Conduct a wide-ranging risk assessment of physical collections and plan to mitigate risks identified

Further enhance security of collections

Investigate digital copying as an alternative to microfilm for long-term preservation

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ASP aerial view 2007

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Artist’s impression – new building (circa 2006)

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The ASP building

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Architects model of racking and crane

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Building 31 – racking

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Building 31

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Totes

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Fully automated retrieval and delivery

Automation test cell Spring 2007

•Racking

•Conveyors

•Load handlers

•Crane chassis

•Bespoke totes

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Implementation: air tightness testing during construction

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Implementation: building air tightness

Hammersens, Osnabruck

PAROC air test box:

4 metres square

400mm thickness

4-hour fire resistance

High thermal capacity

ASP: 11 KM of joints

ALI value of 1 =

1 cubic metre of air leaking through

1 square metre of building envelope

in 1 hour

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Additional Storage Building – building 31

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Colindale Newspaper Library

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Newspaper stacks at Colindale

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Acetate degradation

Cracking/crazing of the film base Bubbles of acid in the film base

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Vindon

Scientific Ltd –

(Rochdale, Lancashire) Science & Pharmaceuticals

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BL Preservation Cold Store at Vindon -

the space (appx. 900m2)

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BL Preservation Cold Store at Vindon -

the cold rooms

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BL Preservation Cold Store at Vindon -

the cold rooms

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BL Preservation Cold Store at Vindon - the cold rooms

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BL Preservation Cold Store at Vindon - the cold rooms

rooms designed & built on site

shelving & ducting is grade 304 stainless steel

vertical rear plenum located at the rear of each room

air is attracted at high level through this plenum by fan(s).

air is then passed over the cooling coils to floor mounted ducting system where the “conditioned” air passes into the room through adjustable vents.

shelves are perforated for maximum exposure to conditioned air

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BL Preservation Cold Store at Vindon - the cold rooms

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From this…

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…to this

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From this…

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…to this

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…to this

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The End for the moment…….but watch out for later instalments

Thank you

deborah.novotny@bl.uk