Extended Opening Hours

As a result of the work of the College's Student Experience Working Group, funding has been provided to extend opening hours in both the  Bedford and  the  Founder's  libraries. From March 1st 2010 the libraries are open term-time until 1 a.m. Monday to Thursday (previously closing at 11 p.m) and until 8 p.m on Friday (no change). There is also extended opening of the two libraries at weekends, from 8.30  a.m.  – 9 p .m .  on  Saturdays  and Sundays.  There will be a five-week 24/7 opening of the Bedford Library between April 12th and May 14th.

Noise and behaviour management

Extract from letter from E.C.Higgins (Principal) to Miss Michell RHC AS161/4 (57),May 3rd 1920:

"What do you think?  I think that the throats and ears and nerves of all of us would benefit greatly by even a slight general effort to speak more quietly, and I hope the students will think it worth a trial".

Noise in silent study areas remains a concern of students, particularly in the Bedford Library. A ‘noise and behaviour group’ has been set up comprising library staff, members of the Students Union and the Student Support and Advisory Service. The recommendations and actions from the group so far are:

Additional signage for stairwells to discourage use of mobile phones (both libraries);

Security coming in to patrol the libraries during the evenings and weekends;

Re-asserting that tlc (Level 2 Bedford Library) is a study space – flyers are now out making this explicit, and asking users to keep to considerate levels of conversation and to not play music etc on laptops;  

Strengthened library regulations

Noise patrols by staff  

Additionally, during the exam period we will be taking a firmer stance over users reserving seats by leaving their belongings behind, utilising a  ‘yellow card /red card' system'.

Open access update

The College issued a press release on the 15th February to announce the formal adoption of the College’s open access policy  and mandate requiring  academics to deposit a copy of their research in Royal Holloway Research Online from the 1st September 2010.  An advisory group has  been set up  to  oversee and monitor implementation. Similarly,  there is an e-Thesis  Working   Group overseeing development of a policy on mandatory e-thesis submission.

Collection Development and Management Policy

A Collection Development and Management Policy has been drafted  to clarify  the role of the Library in supporting teaching, learning and research at  Royal Holloway  through our own collections and those we provide access to elsewhere. The document draws attention to trends in electronic provision of all resources, and to the responsibilities that the Library and departments have to work together within budgetary constraints to provide as much access to resources as possible. The paper has been approved by  the  Library Users  Advisory Group prior to further consideration by the Deans, Departments and Faculties. A set of departmental sub-policies will be drawn up by the Liaison Team and departmental representatives working together with a template. These will hone some of the finer details  specific to each department.  

Haiti

Working with the Student Union, the Library played  a small part in supporting the Haiti Earthquake Appeal. Many students gave generously in addition to paying their fines on the 22nd February in support of the  appeal, raising well over £1,000.

John Tuck
Director of Library Services