Author Archives: Rachel Redrup

Preparing for refurbishment and landscaping

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Revised silver & gold refurbished Library front

Revised impression of the refurbished University Library. The new entrance and café looks out onto pleasant landscaping.  Silver-grey cladding, with regency-gold coloured highlights, increases energy efficiency, weather proofing, and reduces solar glare to the front study spaces

In advance of the latest stage of the Library Refurbishment project later this summer, you may notice some small-scale preparatory work.

  • This week we tested the best method for replacing old windows in a small area of the 2nd Floor.
  • During the week beginning Monday 20 June,  external grounds works will remove trees and hedges in advance of construction. The area around the University Library will be re-landscaped once the project is nearing completion. Take a look at the latest architect’s drawing of how it will look then!

Rachel Redrup, Library Marketing Co-ordinator for 
Robin Hunter, Facilities Manager

 

15-19 August upgrade for Library systems server

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Sam Tyler grins whilst holding travel mug up to the camera

Systems Manager, Sam Tyler, will be celebrating with a bevy in a branded Library travel mug once the new Library systems server is installed in August.

This summer the Library moves its Library Management System to a new server in order to gain a more robust system and less down time. However, please be aware that during our change-over week, 15-19 August, there may be some disruption to Library services.

If you plan to use the Library during this week, either in person or online, please check our University Library News blog nearer the time to see how the server upgrade could affect you. The Library will remain open throughout, as will most of our systems’ functionality.

We hope that you have a great summer and are looking forward to the new server as much as we are!

Rachel Redrup for
Sam Tyler, Library Systems Manager

Contractor appointed for Library refurbishment

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Artists impression og refurbished library

The University has appointed the award-winning firm, ISG Fit Out Ltd. as the contractor for the Library refurbishment. Our Procurement and Estates & Facilities teams collaborated to select ISG Fit Out as the best contractor for this project, based on their competitive costing, quality assurance and technical suitability. We will now be working with ISG Fit Out to share detailed outlines of the redevelopment, including early works taking place this summer.

This major redevelopment continues the popular refurbishments of the upper Library floors carried out in 2013–2014, and will deliver further benefits and improvements for you. On the Ground and First floors, study space will be increased, security will be improved, an improved service for borrowing and returning books will be put into place and the café space will be extended. Throughout the building, new lifts will be installed to provide better disabled access, additional toilets will be added and energy services (including heating and ventilation) will be optimised.

The Library will remain open and fully operational throughout the redevelopment.

Important information about the project, such as the provision of alternative study space and notice of disruptive works will be shared with you all at the earliest possible time.  See an indicative overview of the project and further details of the redevelopment at www.reading.ac.uk/library/refurb. Please remember to check back regularly for new project updates here or on the University Library News blog where day-to-day advice will be given to Library users throughout the project.

Rachel Redrup, Library Marketing Co-ordinator

Slop bin on tour: Used it yet?

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Man pouring drink slops into slop-bin and putting plastic bottle in blue recycing binLook out for our ‘roving slop bin’, making an appearance on various Library floors this month. It’s on test from University Estates & Facilities. Is this the solution to the problem of where to dispose of unfinished drinks before discarding the container? Use it and we might get more bins!

As you may already have seen, Library recycling is rubbish at exam time! Recycling drops during revision time when we may feel stressed. However, one contaminated cup or food container in a recycling bin means the recycling company won’t take it.

Please help us buck the trend and put used cups in a grey landfill bin after slopping out. Empty plastic bottles can go in blue recycling bins.

Rachel Redrup, Marketing Co-ordinator for
Sam Tyler, Library Environmental Champion

 

Leavers! Settle up before you go

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Graduattion2It will soon be time to close one Library account … and maybe also open another?

Settle up before you go!

If you are graduating this summer then please don’t forget to return your loans and clear your account before you go. If you have any outstanding fines or bills you can now pay online as well as in the Library.

Membership after you graduate

If you are interested in borrowing from the University Library after you graduate, annual Library membership is half-price at £45! Alternatively, if you are beginning a new course at UoR next session you can apply for membership over the summer for a reduced charge of £20.

Rachel Redrup, Marketing Co-ordinator

Library and campus study space for revision

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Rows of small tables and chairs set out for examsRevising?

Did you know you could use alternative University revision study space provided elsewhere on campus this term. However, the Library is always a popular study choice and is reserved for Campus/Library Card holders overnight and weekends until the end of exams/term. Have your card handy to prove you are entitled to come in, or come back after taking a break. This year we’re also asking you to help us ensure there is no unfair study desk-hogging!

Hope you are still following our Study Advisers’ advice on planning your revision! All the very best of luck in your exams from the Library! Don’t forget to settle your Library account before you go … or maybe open another!

Rachel Redrup, Marketing Co-ordinator

 

Online thesis printing and binding service

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Student with computerWondering where to get your dissertation or thesis bound and printed on a budget? The University of Reading Library has just teamed up with experienced university binders, Hollingworth & Moss Ltd, to offer a fast and convenient online service. You may well find their pricing competitive too!

No need to travel – just order online and your thesis/dissertation will be delivered anywhere you wish in 10 days, three days or even the next day! Choose from a variety of binding types, colours and ‘extras’ like sleeves, covers, cases and pockets for accompanying material. You’ll see what your cover will look like before you order and receive SMS order updates during the process.

Click on the Library’s Printing & binding page or type in reading.hollingworthmoss.co.uk.

Rachel Redrup, Marketing Co-ordinator

Collections Research Fair, 27 April

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Collections Reseach Fair poster with images of old papers, girl in lab coat examining bones, archive boxes on shelvesEver considered what fascinating research you could do using treasures held right here in our own University Museums and Special Collections?  Researchers (and potential researchers) from all schools and disciplines are invited to drop in to to talk informally to collection staff at their Collection Research Fair, University Library foyer, Whiteknights, 12:30-15:00, Wednesday 27 April 2016. Tell them about your project or research interests, and they will suggest how the University’s unique holdings could fit in with your work.

Meet representatives from each of the University of Reading’s archives, museums and libraries listed below. They will be ready to field your questions, with catalogues, collections lists and sample objects to hand!

Sign up on Eventbrite for reminders and further information about the Collections Research Fair.

Rachel Redrup, Library Marketing Co-ordinator for
Dr Paddy Bullard, Associate Professor in Literature and Book History, p.s.bullard@reading.ac.uk

Help stop study-desk hogging!

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Library's 'Looking for study space?' card in red and greyThanks for telling us how unfair you think it is when students try to reserve study space by leaving their belongings behind. From Monday 18 April, we are cracking down. Look out for our cards – but we need your help too!

Need study space? Move stuff after an hour!

Have you ever been looking for somewhere to work, seen empty seats, but been put off by unattended property there? You don’t know whether someone has just stepped away for a moment, or deliberately left stuff there during a long lunch, a whole afternoon or even overnight…. No longer!

During the exam revision period, Library staff will place cards on unattended property, noting the time. If the owner does not return within one hour, you are entitled to occupy the study space yourself, carefully putting items to one side for the owner to collect later.

Library staff will support your need for space, so just tell us if the returning student complains.

Don’t leave your stuff beyond an hour

Although you should always keep valuables with you, it’s OK to leave your things on your desk whilst you fetch a book or visit the toilet for instance. However leaving belongings at a study space beyond one hour is unacceptable and deprives others. Leaving things overnight is particularly underhand.

Between midnight and 08:00, staff will remove property left unattended for more than an hour to ‘lost property’ at Library Reception. If not claimed, the next morning it will be taken to Palmer Reception, the centre for all lost property in the University  which is open during exam-time Monday to Friday,  13:00-14:00 only (although other times, 10:00-14:00).

Rachel Redrup, Marketing Co-ordinator for Sue Egleton, Head of Systems and User Services.

 

New Library travel mugs, still £5.00

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Library travel mug in grey with black lid bearing statement 'I'm keeping a lid on it in the Library'Remember we changed Library rules to allow you drinks in the Library – as long as they’re in lidded containers? And Cafélibro give 5% off drinks in your own cup? … But you need a lidded travel mug inside the Library?

Keeping a lid on it in the Library!

Cafélibro are now selling our latest style of Library lidded mug – still at £5.00, still a competitive price! Our Mark 2 design holds 450ml, is grey with a black lid and bears the statement  ‘I’m keeping a lid on it in the library’. Treat yourself! Make your statement with ours!

Drinks – yes; food – no!

Please note that whilst our rules still ban food from the Library, you can eat cold food in the café. Hot food, including takeaways, is not permitted anywhere in the building.

However, we look forward to forthcoming Library refurbishment which brings new opportunities in an enlarge the cafe! See what the architect plans on our website.

Rachel Redrup, Marketing Co-ordinator

Summer Library refurbishment and study arrangements

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Artists impression og refurbished libraryHere’s how the University plans to support you during Library refurbishment works, which – dependent upon the formal appointment of a contractor – should take place over summer 2016.

At times there will be noise and access to some areas will be restricted in the Library between early July and the start of the autumn term 2016, as several large-scale construction tasks are planned. Works include removing stairs, punching holes in the basement for new lifts, refurbishing offices, constructing a small café extension and undertaking roof work.

Whilst the majority of undergraduate students will be away from Reading at this time, we are very aware of the possible impact of this on staff, taught postgraduates completing dissertations, PhD and other researchers, and any undergraduates working on dissertations.

Library business as usual

Be assured that the Library will maintain its usual summer vacation opening hours and all printed books/journals on Floors 2-4 will remain accessible. Library staff will still be on hand to help, including your Liaison Librarians, as will the Study Advice and Maths Support teams.

Alternative University study space

The University and the Library will continue to provide as much information as possible on proposed works and alternative arrangements during this time. We are currently exploring providing alternative study spaces, including some with PCs, and will update you as soon as any plan is complete.

In the meantime, check out University PC areas beyond the Library. Extra study space is also available at RUSU’s The Study, and unreserved teaching spaces can be booked via Room Bookings (rooms@reading.ac.uk).

Further information

The Library Refurbishment 2016-2019 webpage gives further information, including a proposed work schedule, frequently asked questions and links to the latest refurbishment news on the University Library News blog (where day-to-day advice will be given to Library users).

Rachel Redrup, Marketing Co-ordinator

Our recycling’s rubbish at exam-time!

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Grey display boards with posters, black sacks and post-box with big eyes on it advertising how to improve recycling efforts.Recently we held an exhibition to show how Library users can help fix an environmental problem in the Library. Statistics show that during busy periods, including exam-time, waste tonnage collected in the Library goes up but the percentage of recycling goes down. This is most obvious in the Group Study Areas of the 2nd and 4th Floors.

Graph showing recycling levels dip and waste rise at exam time

What can we do?

  1. Please take a moment to be more environmentally friendly by:
    • putting used coffee cups in the waste bin! If our recycling company sees bin bags contaminated with used cups or drink dregs, they won’t take it – and the whole bag goes to landfill. Many people are unaware of this and would help if they understood.
    • put recycling in the right bin. (The exhibition tells you more about which paper,  metal and plastics we recycle here).
  2. Look out soon for our ‘roving slop bin‘, on test for University Estates & Facilities, coming to various parts of the Library soon. Is this bin type the solution to the problem of where to dispose of unfinished drinks before we bin the container? Let us know what you think below, or post your comments in the Sustainability Team Green Box(check out those googlie eyes!) beside the exhibition.

More information

For more news about this project, please contact the Library’s Environmental Champion, Sam Tyler.

Rachel Redrup, Marketing Co-ordinator