‘Libraries are the beating heart of a university campus’

If councillors refuse planning permission for the University of Bristol’s new library, they will be missing “a once in a generation chance”.

That is the message from the director of the university’s world famous Theatre Collection which is set to move into the ambitious new building which has divided opinion.

The future of the University of Bristol’s proposed new library could be decided by a group of city councillors at a meeting on Wednesday afternoon.

Designed by an international team, the building has been designed to replace the Hawthorns at the corner of Elton Road and Woodland Road, and contain 2,000 new study seats and 420,000 books.

Plans are for the ground floor be open to the public, encompassing galleries, event spaces and a cafe, with some of the university’s most important collections available to view.

The proposed new library “forms a key part of the University’s vision and strategy for transforming our Clifton campus, which includes providing new and enhanced facilities, improvements to public spaces and creating a welcoming heart to the University for students, staff and the wider community” – image: Grant Associates

Ed Fay, director of library services at the University of Bristol

“Libraries are often called the ‘beating heart’ of a University campus and provide spaces for learners to undertake independent study and work collaboratively to share and develop knowledge. They are inclusive, welcoming spaces where challenging and rigorous intellectual debate can be provided in a safe environment.

“It has become clear through the pandemic that the most disadvantaged members of our community have the most need for University facilities and that access to study space is a key component of mental health, well-being, and educational achievement.

“The new library will provide spaces which are designed to foster well-being – in the use of natural light, diverse spaces including low-distraction study rooms and flexibility for social and group study. The building will provide 2,000 study seats, housing 420,000 books and 70,000 journals as well as around half of the University’s cultural collections.

“The spaces are future-looking with flexible uses in mind as student learning expectations and behaviours evolve post-pandemic. Our experience of supporting these changing requirements during the last year reinforces the importance of physical environments providing the ability to collaborate with others and equitable access to digital technology and creative labs.

“Publicly accessible spaces will enable exhibitions of research and student work, providing opportunities for engagement with local residents and communities. These innovative and open spaces will attract the next generation of scholars and creatives to the University and the city.”

The library has been designed by a collaborative team formed by Hawkins/Brown, Schmidt Hammer Lassen and BuroHappold, companies behind some of Europe’s top education and library projects – image: Hawkins/Brown

Jo Elsworth, director of cultural collections (library services) and the Theatre Collection

“Our Cultural Collections are unique and distinctive heritage assets with international significance and national importance. They include the University’s Special Collections, the Theatre Collection and an art collection. They support and enable research, teaching, cultural partnerships and civic engagement. They are used by a wide range of people including scholars, students, researchers and members of the public.

“Although both Special Collections and the Theatre Collection are currently open to the public, we are constrained by the size and visibility of our current premises, which are relatively hidden within non-public-facing buildings. By relocating the collections to the new library, we will underpin its status as a leading heritage facility that can deliver maximum benefit to the widest range of people.

“The Centre for Cultural Collections will sit at the heart of the new library and will provide free publicly accessible reading and viewing rooms, exhibition spaces and associated events and activities, alongside secure collections storage and conservation, digitisation and creative labs.

“Most importantly, it will provide a platform for us to work collaboratively, establishing and scaling up relationships with community partners and cultural organisations across the city.

“Ultimately, the new library represents a once in a generation chance to bring these outstanding collections together, share them with the public and provide transformative learning opportunities for decades to come.”

The building will accommodate learning and research space and provide capacity for around 2,000 new study seats, and approximately 420,000 books and 70,000 journals

The new university library forms a key part of the University’s vision and strategy for transforming our Clifton campus, which includes providing new and enhanced facilities, improvements to public spaces and creating a welcoming heart to the University for students, staff and the wider community.”

Main image: Hawkins/Brown

Read more: ‘Where are the brilliant new buildings in Bristol?’