Royal Holloway, University of London tlc@bedford
Contact Details: |
Matthew Brooke, Associate Director (Academic Support) |
Type of Project: |
Refurbishment. The basis for the decision was an identified need on campus to provide a social learning environment, and also in the light of some poor national student survey (NSS) results around library space and provision. |
Start/End Date: |
28th April 2008 to 13th October 2008 |
Background & Context
Further information
Website and a short video about the tlc@bedford
Report on the use of Facebook in this project in the JISC Social Software study
Royal Holloway has 3 campus libraries, a separate IT department, many PC labs and several cafes, bars and places on campus for social interaction. Following poor performance in the NSS and iGraduate survey, an investigation was carried out on campus into the student experience. This highlighted that the campus lacked a place for social learning - an IT-rich environment where students could converse, interact and study together. As these surveys had highlighted concern with the library service, one of the libraries - the three-storey 1990s Bedford Library - was chosen from a shortlist of 3 potential sites on campus to be refurbished as a social learning environment.
What is it?
Refurbishment of the existing upper ground floor to create a 'social learning space', including provision of a new catering facility and an additional 130 seats to provide a range of learning environments. The refurbishment includes provision of greatly increased IT and power provision, the provision of a range of loanable equipment such as e-book readers, and remodelling of the main library entrance. M&E infrastructure works and local office alterations were also carried out to maximise the space available for the public environment and to ensure appropriate heating and air handling was in place for the increased occupancy.
What happens in the space?
There are 205 seats of varied furniture: sofas, various styles of chair, stools, IT task chairs. The environment is heavily provisioned with power and data outlets, as well as being fully covered by the wireless network; additionally there are fixed PCs. There are many whiteboards on and around which students can work Therefore, students can shape their study environment as they wish - around their laptops, the whiteboards, creating a seating area to suit group work or individual study. Through the provision of refreshments they can remain in the space for as long as they wish with no need to leave the building for food.
