Geography library first to face erosion
University-wide library reshuffles look set to leave Geography students severely inconvenienced academically, as the future of their faculty library hangs in the balance.
The School of Geography will move from its current location in Mansfield Road to the Dyson Perrins building in the University Science Park over the summer vacation. However, the Geography library will not be moving with it. Problems with providing disabled access in the new library and the great expense of refurbishment have forced the library's movement to an undecided location in the area close to the Radcliffe Science Library (RSL) and the Hooke libraries.
However, the library relocation will not take place for at least a year after the department relocation, due to alterations needed at the RSL in preparation for the complex's expansion. Specialist library staff will be lost, and the increased distance between departments and faculty libraries may inconvenience students.
David Perrow, the Acting Deputy Director of the Oxford University Library Service (OULS), told The Oxford Student: "The School of Geography was consulted, but there was no opportunity to consult more widely with all students and academic staff. A decision needed to be taken at the start of this academic year, and the current decision was seen as the best of the options being considered for Geography."
Students have come out in opposition at the new plan. Sarah Maynard, a member of the Junior Consultative Committee, told The Oxford Student: "Of course it will be inconvenient; it takes time to get between libraries. Splitting the collection reduces the integrity of the subject."
Maynard hinted at a deeper level of discontent towards proposals: "The staff are also not at all happy about the proposals, but it is out of their hands really."
Beginning with the St Cross Social Science Library, OULS has been driving towards libraries being less in number and larger in size. Perrow explained: "Whilst departmental libraries are convenient in terms of location, they generally cannot afford long opening hours and are costly to run since they duplicate resources held in other libraries and occupy expensive space."
It is proposed that in a similar vein to the Social Science stock centralisation at the St Cross library, Science Department stock may become centred on the Radcliffe Science Library, whilst Humanities books look likely to be consolidated at the Radcliffe Infirmary site and the Central Bodleian.
OUSU VP for Access and Academic Affairs Linsey Cole will write to the Pro Vice-Chancellors protesting at the mergers, whilst the Geography JCC members are also writing a letter on behalf of all Geography students to the Vice-Chancellor, Dr John Hood, himself.
18th Nov 2004