Building for competitive advantagePlaceExpo @ IFB 2014 | 19 June 2014

Dr Richard Heseltine | University of Hull

Renewing the heart of the campus - the redevelopment of the Brynmor Jones Library

How university libraries are changing ...

• Predicted to become empty storehouses of old books

• And our collections are now mainly digital

• But libraries everywhere are busier than ever

• The places of choice for student learning ...

• ... places for books, for technology, for space, for support, for long opening hours, for friends

How they must continue to change ...

• Meeting changing patterns of study and learning

• Recognition of the social dimension

• Adaptation to massive technological change

• Embracing new opportunities

Libraries bring competitive advantage

• Intensification of competition in Higher Education

• Student experience as a principal focus of competition

• Libraries as a key element of student experience

• Heavy sector-wide investment in library redevelopment - over £400m in last 10 years

Competition driven by rising student expectations in the new fees regime

The Library is about our brand

• The BJL is the largest building on campus and our most important academic building.

• When you see it, when you go inside, it should tell you what the University is about.

So the new Library is not just a social space for 18 year olds ....

Strategic alignment - what should the Library tell people about our brand?

• Our reputation and stature are vital to us – this is a quality institution

• Academic excellence is at the core of our reputation

• We embrace the future and value our heritage

• We place students at the heart of the University

• We are an anchor institution in our local communities

Above all, a symbol of confidence in the future …

Above all, a symbol of confidence in the future …

Alex Solk | Sheppard Robson

Clones?

Expectations?

Individuals!

We need to understand user needs

We need to understand user needs

We need to understand user needs

We need to understand user needs

We need to understand user needs

We need to understand user needs

Choice…

So what does this tell us?

We sometimes work individually…

We sometimes work collectively…

We need be able to find a group meeting space ad-hoc…

…but also have the ability to book a regular venue in advance for group working

We sometimes may go outside to learn

We would like to be able to bring our laptop in…but not have to

How do we accommodate all of these needs?

choice38 space typesStaff desk

Staff breakout

Staff informal meeting

Staff hot desk

Interactive collaboration

PC study

Accessible PC studyIndividual study bench

Accessible individual study bench

Informal study

Informal group study

Group study 4 pers

Group study 6 pers

Group study 8 pers

Meeting space

Conference space

Tea point

Individual silent study

Individual carrel

Resource point

Information point

Postgraduate individual study

Posgraduate PC study

Postgraduate informal study

Teaching

Specialist equipment study

Outside informal study

Informal group learning pod

Quick access PC

Self help

Training space

Private discussion

Gallery

Exhibition

Staff meeting

Group collaboration

Informal individual

Staff room

How do we accommodate all of these needs?

Choice…

Choice…

Thank you