A co-location group consisting of Architects (Iain Nicholls and Kate Ginder), Facilities Management (David Lang and Peter Molony who is presently on leave) and Library staff (Gail Pattie, Heather Jenks, Joan Simpson and Margaret Greville, while Margaret is on leave either John Arnold, Sue Johnston and/or Sara Roberts have attended the meetings) have been working on the feasibility of co-locating the law and commerce library resources and services within the exisiting Laww Library footprint. This has involved library staff working out how many shelves would need to be housed within this space, how many study seats would be needed, and has included getting the Architect to sketch in group study areas.

The Architects have developed drawings that can accommodate the basic requirements put forward in Stage 1 of this feasibility study, and those of us in the meeting this morning were able to see that the print book stock could be accommodated and that study spaces were increased. However being constrained by staying within the original footprint of the Law Librray has not enhanced the learning space.

The next stage of the process will take place when Peter Molony, Director of Facilities Management, returns from leave next week. There are a number of issues that still need to be fully explored and one of those is the vision of the Campus Master Plan project team who are keen to see active edges, like the Library spaces, accessible from the ground floor. For this co-location project, this would mean creating a Level 1 entrance to the Law Library. Therefore further discussions need to take place at various levels within the University. I will report back to Library staff after the proposed meeting of the co-location group and the Campus Master Plan project team.

Heather Jenks