We are very excited to announce that the new study spaces on the Lower Ground Floor are now open!

We know how hard it can be to find a study spot, so we listened to our students and added 358 new study spaces to the Main Library over the summer, as this blog has documented. Today we celebrated the grand opening of the Lower Ground Floor, which has been renovated for student use.

Bryan MacGregor, Director of User Services and Alec Edgecliffe-Johnson, President of the Edinburgh University Students’ Association, did the honours, cutting the ribbon to officially open the new spaces.

In the coming weeks we will be running competitions in the new space, so keep your eye on our Facebook and Twitter for the chance to win prizes! We would also love to hear your feedback about the new spaces, and about any further changes you want to see in the Library, so please get in touch via Facebook or Twitter, or use the survey forms we will be distributing in the Lower Ground Floor.

We hope that these new study spaces will make the upcoming deadlines a little easier!

Everything is almost ready for the study spaces on the Lower Ground Floor of the Main Library to open, we just have a few last minute things to put in place for you and the space will be open to students on Monday 17^th October.

 All of the new furniture has been delivered and the new desktop power outlets have been put in place to make your studying here as easy as possible.

We’ve got new signs on the lower ground floor directing you to the space too!

Come and see the space on Monday and let us know what you think!

We are almost there – thanks for your continued patience!

 New furniture for the 358 additional study spaces will start to arrive next week – please see below for details.

 Tuesday 13^th September – 2^nd & 4^th Floors

Thursday 15^th September – Lower Ground Floor

Tuesday 20^th September – 1^st & 3^rd Floors

 Whilst every attempt will be taken to avoid the minimum of disruption to users as the new furniture is assembled there will be an element of unavoidable noise as these works get carried out.

 The installation of the new desk top power modules will be installed quickly after the new study desks have been assembled, the desktop power will enable you to charge your devices via a plug or a USB port. These works will be carried out in the evening as there will be an element of drilling work involved.  As with previous works, barriers will be put in place to alert users of the areas where the contractors will be working in.  

 Tuesday 13th , Wednesday 14^th & Thursday 15^th September – 2^nd & 4^th Floors

Monday 19^th September – Lower Ground Floor

Tuesday 20^th &  Wednesday 21^st September –   1^st & 3^rd Floor

As part of the ongoing electrical enabling works to accommodate the new study desks as part of the library refurbishment works, our contractors have scheduled a series of essential power shut downs from Monday 5^th September 2016. The shut downs will be taking place from 21:00 to minimise disruption to library users.  On these dates, the following floors will be closed to both staff and library users whilst the works are being carried out:

Mon 5th September: 4^th and 3^rd floors closed from 21:00 (to 06:00 Tues 6^th)

Tues 6th September: 2^nd floor closed from 21:00 (to 06:00 Weds 7^th)

Weds 7th September: 1^st floor and Lower Ground Floor closed from 21:00 (to 06:00 Thurs 8^th)

There will be no access to the closed floors from 21:00 until the library opens the following morning. Please be advised to collect items in advance of or after the dates and times above. Staff have been advised of any preparation required in advance of the power shut downs.

Apologies for the disruption caused – thank you for your patience while work is underway.

Part of the refurbishment works to create new study areas will also involve an upgrade to the existing desk top power modules on a number of new and existing desks.  We are confident that these new desk top power modules will help address the many issues that users have been experiencing, each desk will be fitted with a single socket and double USB charging point.

 Additional electrical enabling works have been planned to accommodate these new desk top power modules which will see a number of areas affected, these works have been scheduled in order to minimise disruption to users.  These areas will be cordoned off to users whilst the work is taking place.

 Please see below for details

 4^th Floor: from 6pm to 6am on Monday 29^th August – Tuesday 30^th August 2016 electrical enabling work will take place throughout the floor to prepare for the installation of additional desk top power supply units.

 3^rd Floor: from 6pm to 6am on Tuesday 29^th August – Wednesday 31st August 2016 electrical enabling work will take place throughout the floor to prepare for the installation of additional desk top power supply units.

 2^nd Floor: from 6pm to 6am on Wednesday 31^st August, Thursday 1^st & Friday 2^nd September 2016 electrical enabling work will take place throughout the floor to prepare for the installation of additional desk top power supply units.

 1st Floor: from 6pm to 6am on Thursday 1^st September – Friday 2^nd September 2016 electrical enabling work will take place throughout the floor to prepare for the installation of additional desk top power supply units.

Work is continuing in the Main Library on a programme of works to bring significant improvements for library users through increasing the number of study spaces by 350 and providing additional power and data facilities at study desks.

Work underway this week (22^nd – 31^st August)

1^st  floor – construction and electrical enabling work will now begin in what was the ‘New Book Area’ and ‘Reception Desk’ to transform these area into new study spaces. In addition to these works, study desks adjacent to accessible study rooms 8 – 11 will also undergo upgrade which will include desk top power being installed to these desks. Please be aware that whilst these works are being carried out,  temporary diversions will be put in place to both the meeting room suite and south side study area.  Directional signage providing alternative access to these areas will be placed on 1^st floor to assist you.

Lower Ground Floor – construction work has also now started in this area and will continue throughout the rest of August.

Apologies for the continuing noise and disruption – thank you for your patience while work is underway.

Please note PC’s and Key Boards within the Ground, 1^st and 2^nd Floors will undergo a deep clean from Monday 15^th August. The contractors  will start from the 2^nd floor and then continue to the ground floor, the work is likely to last approximately 3 days.  PC’s will be temporarily unavailable whilst the deep clean  is undertaken which includes keyboard and monitor sanitising. PC’s will then quickly become available on each floor as the cleaning contractors progress to all areas of the floor.

Thank you for your patience.

 Work is continuing in the Main Library on a programme of works to bring significant improvements for library users through increasing the number of study spaces by 350 and providing additional power and data facilities at study desks.

Work underway this week (8^th-15^th August)

3^rd floor – Construction work to remove empty shelves and carry out electrical works is underway on the south side of the 3^rd floor. The collections PC-Q are currently cordoned off and access to these items is through consultation with Helpdesk staff located on the 3^rd floor or Ground Floor 9.15-4.45 Monday to Friday, or through emailing collections-management@ed.ac.uk at other times.

 Apologies for the continuing noise and disruption – thank you for your patience while work is underway.

Electrical work underway on the 3^rd floor              Shelving being removed  on the                                                                                                        3^rd floor

Work is continuing in the Main Library on a programme of works to bring significant improvements for library users through increasing the number of study spaces by 350 and providing additional power and data facilities at study desks.

Work underway this week (1^st-8^th August) and updates

2^nd floor – Construction work to remove empty shelves and carry out electrical works is underway on the north side of the 2^nd floor. The collections JV-PB are currently cordoned off and access to these items is through consultation with Helpdesk staff located on the 2^nd floor or Ground Floor 9.15-4.45 Monday to Friday, or through emailing collections-management@ed.ac.uk at other times.

Move of collections 3^rd floor to 2^nd floor

Collections from the 3^rd floor now permanently located on the 2^nd floor are:

• All P Pamphlets
• All P Folios
• P books
• PA books
• PB books

Signs

The updating of shelf-end signs is currently underway and we expect this to be completed this week.

We are also working on updating the main Library signs and will have accurate signs in place at the completion of the Main Library works.

DiscoverEd Search Points

We are currently updating the information in DiscoverEd and the information retrieved will then reflect the new location of items that have moved from the 3^rd floor to the 2^nd floor.

Compression of Compressions

The addition of new study spaces on the 2^nd, 3^rd and 4^th floors is made possible through the compression of the collections on the shelves to provide free shelving that can be removed. This compression of collections is now complete.

Apologies for the continuing noise and disruption – thank you for your patience while work is underway.

Work is continuing in the Main Library on a programme of works to bring significant improvements for library users through increasing the number of study spaces by 350 and providing additional power and data facilities at study desks.

Work underway this week (25th – 31st July)

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