Information Commons wins award

This is taken from the University of Sheffield's web site.

The University of Sheffield's striking Information Commons building has taken the top prize at the Royal Institute of British Architects' (RIBA) Yorkshire White Rose Awards. The building, designed by architects RMJM, scooped the `Yorkshire Building of the Year´ award at a prestigious ceremony at Leeds Town Hall, hosted by Barnsley poet Ian McMillan.
Recognised as one of the best examples of architecture in the region, the six-storey Information Commons provides a state-of-the art learning environment for students. It combines print and digital library services with the latest IT resources, including over 500 PCs, wireless networking and IT equipped classrooms. It has well-equipped spaces for teaching, learning and study, along with a 70-seat café.The building, which also won the gold White Rose Award for Architecture, has a distinctive copper exterior and makes excellent use of natural light, as well as providing a range of study environments. It has already won a national RIBA award and two construction innovation and sustainability awards for its complex structural flooring system.

University of Sheffield Information Commons on YouTube

Don't miss Martin's comments on my posting about the Leicester University Toilets! He draws attention to a pop video on YouTube that was shot inside the Information Commons.. The correct link to the video is here.

Opening of the Information Commons

Drummers at the official opening of the Information Commons.

The University of Sheffield's Information Commons was closed this morning for its official opening and I attended along with an assortment of the great and the good. Whenever you have this sort of ceremony someone has to decide who will cut the ribbon (or in this case, unfurl the wall hanging). A feature of this opening was that the University eshewed a celebrity or even someone who just looked like a celebrity but chose instead Mr Harsh Srivastav, one of their 2007 graduates and an ex-president of the Students Union. The reason for this was to emphasise how central students were to the Information Commons and the University in general. Admittedly this line runs well on the recruitment video but it does represent a real shift in perspective.

Harsh repayed the compliment by lauding the University and the library service for their student centred approach and praising the Information Commons building as a great success. Someone commented that he could be a future Prime Minister (of India or Britain).

Librarians sometimes find it difficult to promote the role of the library and of the information professional within their organisation. A user centred approach can help. In academic institutions like universities, colleges or schools; the library should be seen as a central element and the librarian as one of the key players. Industrial/commercial information services are usually seen as a support service but if the concept of a learning organisation is developed then the information professional becomes central. Local authorities may see their public library service as a small and not particularly vital part of their portfolio of services but from the users point of view the library is often the most popular part of what the council does. As Oldham library demonstrates, a modern, well stocked library is not only a popular service but can help with regeneration and community development. Any council that ignores this does so at its peril.

Information Commons: University of Sheffield

On Friday I attended an Open Day for the new Information Commons at the University of Sheffield. To quote from the introductory booklet:

"Since the Middle Ages, the word 'commons' has described a shared resource and expressed the idea of community. So the Information Commons is a shared environment where the University's academic community can come together to access a wide variety of information and learning resources."

It is a very impressive building. Of course all new library buildings have an initial impact but I think this one will remain impressive even when the initial gloss has worn off. From the outside the building is distinctive and well proportioned. The blue-green of the prepatinated copper with the grey of the terracotta makes this a landmark building that is not flamboyant but has an unique identity.

The entrance loby is spacious, uncluttered and remarkably understated. It has the air of an airport departure lounge when all flights have been cancelled. There are then four main levels and a smaller extension of two further levels. Each level has its own identifying colour and this is indicated by the colour of the soft furniture, video display panels and space dividers. Within each level there is a variety of different spaces of varied shape and form. These include areas for individual study , group study, soft seating and study rooms. There are 1,300-plus study spaces with over 500 PCs.

There are distinctive architectural features with internal voids and imaginitive use of materials. Works of art are used to good effect and there are spectacular views from the windows.

Video display panels throughout the building provide information about opening times and services. There is an enquiry desk on the ground floor while members of staff rove the building and can be summoned by telephones located on each floor.

Further details and photographs will be provided on the SINTO wiki. All photographs are by Carl Clayton

Do we need libraries?

Back to work after my summer vacation which included a short break in Barcelona. It's a fascinating city and my partner and I enjoyed exploring its tourist sights, beaches and backstreets.
When I got back I discovered that a lively debate about public libraries had been going on in the Guardian Unlimited Arts blog. Starting with a posting by Louise Tucker "Do 'most people' really need libraries any more?" the blog demonstrates yet again that many people do still feel passionately about libraries. People get very angry when libraries are closed or the importance of the book stock is reduced. Unfortunately many of the comments reflect a traditional or even reactionary view of the role of libraries. Some people object to attempts to make libraries more accessible to the whole community or to provide access to electronic resources. Tim Coates makes a contribution but with the exception of Councillor Ken Thornber on behalf of Hampshire Libraries (which has been criticised on the basis of reported comments by Yinnon Ezra) I could see no contributions from chief librarians, MLA or CILIP putting forward the view of the library profession. It does seem a pity that we don't make use of this sort of forum to get our message over.

During the discussion Louise Tucker made the following comment:

"What is wrong with the word 'library'? Did your council pay a fortune for this rebranding? It reminds me of the University of Sheffield which has renamed its new library (yet more money spent on buildings not books) the 'Information Commons'. Apparently they called it this because 'commons' implied a shared resource; however, in what I think is a relatively unusual step, they have determined that only staff and students of the University can use it, and that temporary staff and visiting researchers cannot... (PEYE 1185). Orwell would really turn in his grave wouldn't he?"

Again it is perhaps a pity that the University did not defend itself against this comment. Through the SYALL scheme the University has been committed to public access to their library service for many years. The decision that the Information Commons should be restricted to undergraduates while external users are directed to the Western Bank library is a reasonable arrangement and puts no-one at a disadvantage.

I will be attending the Information Commons HEI Open Day tomorrow - my first opportunity to see inside the building - and I will report on my impressions.

Information Commons

Todays photo is of the new University of Sheffield Information Commons building. This building has 7,800 square metres of space, 1,300 study spaces, 100,000 volumes on the shelves and 500 PCs (I have to confess I have not counted this myself - I just took it from the press release). If you want to know more go to the web site. There are plenty more photographs including a couple of live web-cams so if you want to look at a library all day now is your chance! At the very least you can use it to check out the weather in Sheffield.

What you can't do unless you are a registered member of the University is to visit the Information Commons. For a variety of reasons - primarily pressure on space and secutity issues - the University has decided that public access will not be permitted. However the University is committed to the SYALL access agreement and access to library services is available through the Main Library, St George's Library and Health Sciences Library. Special open days will be organised later.

The library as a physical place

Yesterday Gilly and I attended the opening day for the new Department of Work & Pensions (DWP) library at Porterbrook in Sheffield. There has been a library here for some time but it has recently been relocated and expanded with the print material on open access shelving instead of cupboards and better facilities for accessing electronic materials.
The library is a resource for staff at the DWP in Sheffield and the north of England but the library is a SINTO member and are willing to help other libraries as far as is possible.

While I was there I had an interesting discussion about virtual vs physical libraries. The DWP library delivers much of its services to the desks of staff both in the same building and elsewhere in the country. At the same time they think it is important to have an attractive physical space. This is valuable to users who want to get away from their desks to do research and to find help. Also it sends an important message to top management and puts the library service "on the map". Decision makers in any organisation are often unclear about the exact role of the information service. While virtual services are increasingly important they can be invisible and perhaps a room full of books gives a stronger message.

In our region we do have some good examples of libraries as physical spaces. The Information Commons at the University of Sheffield will be opening soon. This may re-start the debate about what we should call ourselves. Is Information Commons just a fancy name for a library or does it create a positive new image? The Adsetts Learning Centre at Sheffield Hallam University was state-of-the-art when it was opened and is still an impressive building. Barnsley central library has recently reopened following a five-month refurbishment and a number of the college libraries in our area are worthy of a visit. SINTO is organising a visit to see the four new learning centres at Rotherham College of Arts & Technology town centre campus.

And what about Sheffield central library? Its an impressive building and one much loved by many Sheffielders. Inside there has been a great deal of work in recent years to make it more attractive. But even its friends would have to admit that it does not entice users in. Could more be done to make it seem an exciting place to go?