Harold Cohen Library Refurbishment - Summer 2008

A major refurbishment of the Harold Cohen Library Reading Rooms will commence on the 9th June 2008 and be completed in September 2008. We hope these significant improvements will address some of the issues raised in student satisfaction surveys and will significantly raise the standard of the environment for studying.

The North Reading Room
The North Reading Room will be developed to provide another area for group study within the building. The lighting will be significantly improved as will the ventilation. The area will be equipped with plenty of plug in points for laptops, and modern furniture that can be moved to create the appropriate flexible arrangements for group study.
This is the space where you can meet for discussion and to work in an informal modern, bright environment.

The South Reading Room
This room will be equipped with new desks with height adjustable seating and the space will be opened up to create access to the medical sciences subject team for help and support. There will be plenty of plug in points for laptop users and a PBL book collection for medical and dentistry students will be housed within this area.
This area will be organised for individual study and provide an area where students and visitors can readily access help and support.

The Main Reading Room
The Main Reading Room will continue to be designated as a silent study area for those who like to find a quiet place to work in the Library. We want to restore some of the grandeur to this fine Reading Room, but with the additional benefits of desk top lighting, more comfortable and robust furnishings and carpeting. This area will continue to house a substantial part of our book collections.

First Floor Landing
The first floor landing area connecting the Reading Rooms will become the focus for a new Information Support Desk.

Preparing for refurbishment
To prepare for this work to be undertaken there will inevitably be an amount of disruption. We are in the process of undertaking an extensive book move to allow us to relocate books currently housed in the North and South Reading Rooms onto the stack floors.

This will mean that access to stacks 5 and 6 will be severely restricted for 5 – 7 days between 21st April and 2nd May. During this time library staff will operate a book retrieval service for students. It would greatly assist us if you are in a position to borrow your books well in advance of this period to do so, or you can of course request them in advance by calling at the Issue Desk with details.

Access to Study Space
Towards the end of the book move we anticipate the Reading Rooms will be out of access for study for around 3 days, the week beginning the 5th May. We will do everything we can to minimise this disruption but access to study space will be limited for a few days and we would encourage students to use the Sydney Jones Library during this time. We are unable at this time to accurately predict the exact dates and times of likely disruption, but will continue to give daily updates as to the accessibility of key areas both by posters within the building and via network posters.
Access to PCs in the 8 Teaching Centres will continue undisturbed throughout the book move.

Disruption during the summer
There will be no access to the Reading Rooms, the main stairways to the first floor landing or the Wolfson Suite between 9th June and the 19th September. Students wishing to find space for quiet study may use the Current Journals Room, or the study space provided on the back of stacks 3, 4, and 5. Students may prefer to minimise the risk of disruption completely and use the Sydney Jones Library during this time.
Access to PC Teaching Centres will not be compromised beyond the annual cycle of events which are scheduled during the summer vacation like clearing, updating hardware.

Communications
We will do everything we can to minimise disruption to students, staff and visitors for the duration of the project and hope you will agree it will be worth the effort.
If you would like to receive regular email updates regarding likely disruption please email the contact below or pass your details to the member of staff on the Information Support Desk. We will be happy to keep you up to date.

If you have any concerns or would like further information regarding this project please do not hesitate to contact Laura Oldham,User Services Manager,Harold Cohen Library, Email: loldham@liv.ac.uk, Telephone 0151 794 5413