Overcoming Space issues experience by Numerous Universities

One of the primary features of the new library is the autmated storage and retrieval system which allows university to keep its collection on site by putting 80 per cent of its stack in a compressed space. This features is crucial in comparison to other University, who are coming to grips with the limits of shelf space.

The University of Sydney and the University of NSW are cutting back on hard copies, either by discarding duplicates or moving titles into off-site storage. Since the removal process was introduced, librarians have discovered countless numbers of rare books such as an 1892 copy of The Story of a Puppet or the Adventures of Pinocchio by Carlo Collodi. Earlier this year, Students and Librarians protested on Facebook against their planned renovation of the Fisher library. They borrowed 1100 books in a single hour to save them from storage, which included a book that was not borrowed since 1979.

The University of Oxford faced opposition when it ran out of shelves at the centuries-old Bodleian Librarry and trucked books to an industrial estate on the outskirts of Swindon, 45km away. When the Ernest S. Bird Library, at Syracuse University in the US, tried to move books 400km away, staff and students ran the "free Bird" campaign to prevent this from occuring.

Environmentally Sustainable Design

The new library is all about conserving energy, with lots of naturally lighted areas and with a design to promote reduced power consumption - the new library is all about saving energy and promoting e-friendly techniques.

Some key sustainability principles to be considered in the concept design:

• maximise building and siting orientation opportunities
• appropriate solar access
• exploit natural ventilation and lighting opportunities
• design integration of sustainable systems
• appropriate material selection
• renewable in lieu of finite resources
• design to promote reduced power consumption
• alternative and low impact power sources

The new library will stand there for many years so there has be careful consideration into furniture, fixtures and all the liking that they will be able to be there for a number of years and are sufficient enough to last the time.

Lachlan Macquarie Room

Another special feature in the Library is the Lachlan Macquarie Room, which provides a unique historical link between Macquarie University and its namesake, Lachlan Macquarie, the fifth British governor of New South Wales. The Lachlan Macquarie Room is showcased inside the entrance to the Library.

The Room is of the original ground floor parlour room from Lachlan Macquarie's home on the Isle of Mull, Scotland. It includes all the original timber panelling, doors, windows, alcoves, shutters, and fireplae dating from the 1820s

Macquarie University Library Collections

There are approximately one million volumes housed in Macquarie University Library. These items include printed books, journals, newspapers, reports, conference proceedings, working papers, maps, Macquarie University postgraduate theses, computer software, multimedia, microfilm, microfiche, posters, toys, games and additional non-print resources.The bulk of these materials are located in the Library's main collection.

The Library has also acquired by purchase, donation and bequest a number of collections containing rare or unique items. Some of these collections are kept and housed as discrete, separate collections, others have provided the focus for concentrated collection development in specialised areas. Access to these collections is often restricted. The addition of items to the Rare Book Collection includes a number of titles purchased through the generosity of the Macquarie University Library Friends.

Items held in restricted access research collections must be read under supervision and they are not generally available for loan. All initial requests for consultation should made to the staff at the Information Desk .

Impressive Features of new Library

The new Library has over 2500 seats for group and individual study and more than 200 PCs for students and guest login. The library also provides dedicated Postgraduates and Higher Degree Research study seats with desktop power for laptops, Macquarie network access, vending machine and free lockers for Macquarie University Students.
The native parklands of the campus have inspired an innovative design, which aims to set impressive sustainability standards such as:

• A green roof with grass and gardens
• Natural light wells for lower floors
• External shade fins
• Zoned lighting
• Use of recycled material in construction

• An Automated Storage and Retrieval System

*Information sourced from http://www.lib.mq.edu.au/newlibrary/

Did You Know? - ASRS

If you've had a chance to walk around and explore the new library you might've already seen or heard about the ASRS - Automated Storage and Retrival System. The new library at Macquarie University is the first University to get its hands on ASRS.

The ASRS allows students to type in an item and robotic cranes will retrieve your item in a matter of minutes! In my opinion, this is taking the hard work out of having to search for a book and gets it to you quicker but at the same time you lose out on stumbling upon books that could contain some further information on what you're working on!

*Example picture of an ASRS
*Information sourced from http://www.lib.mq.edu.au/newlibrary/

Visiting the new library

Visiting the new library and looking around the amenities that it has, was a mesmerizing experience.
Initially, we were introduced to the structure itself; the spacious elevated entrance giving an opportunity to admire nature, the left and right wing of the building entrance – symbolising an open arm, heat and sunscreen windows that are sensitive to weather changes and adjust accordingly, introduction of more colours to make the place brighter, and a café to feature at the entrance, with open tables and chairs – a place to relax and rejuvenate.

New library seems to be a much more open, colourful and bright place. We were led to the 3^rd and 4^th floors which are mainly ‘Student Self-regulated Areas’. Each floor brings in different colours such as Red, Green and Purple making the library more dynamic, comfortable chairs, adjustable furniture, improved space provided for group discussions and studies, laptop charging points, separate study and research areas for post-graduates and high degree researchers.

Blog layout