Northumbria University, City Campus Library, Newcastle upon Tyne
| Contact Details: | Christine Willoughby, Assistant Director Christine.Willoughby@northumbria.ac.uk Annie Kilner, Service Manager Annie.Kilner@northumbria.ac.uk |
| Type of Project: | Refurbishment. To upgrade infrastructure, increase Library IT provision (complaints and queues) and provide an up-to-date range of learning environments to meet diverse student needs in the 21st Century |
| Start/End Date: | 2003 - December 2006; with continuation of more minor works |
Technology
All the campus is flooded with wireless and students can access the learning portal using Citrix.
Through the Learning Portal, the students can access(among other services):
- the Skills Plus programme (written by the Library and Learning Services staff, together with Student Services, covering information literacy, research and study skills)
- NORA - a much improved search engine that gives access to the library's online resources
- Blackboard Learning Platform
Laptops for loan are available from Floor 1.
The space includes a large number of fixed PCs and printers.
Innovative Radio Frequency Identification Technology (RFID) book tags are being used to make self-service borrowing and return of books the norm.
Smart Boards and audio-visual equipment planned for the study rooms.
Smartcard access and using to pilot 24x7 in May 2007.
Students receive emails warning them that their books are due for return. They can then renew online (this has been a facility for staff for some years).
Adding Value
The RFID book tags together with the streamlined self-check machines have allowed a completely new ground floor layout that helps users to borrow and return items, access the Keytext collection and check their loan details quickly and intuitively. As a result self-service issues have risen from 16% to 82% in 12 months (as of December 2006).
The Smartcard system (introduced in 2001) has simplified access to a range of Library Services, provided security for users and generated management information from which services were planned and foundations laid for a cost effective extension of opening hours. Functionality has been gradually extended to included membership of the Students' Union, Sport Northumbria, 24/7 access to IT facilities in Pandon Building, and car parking at the Coach Lane Campus. In September 2006, the card was used for the first time to support Academic Registry with online student enrolment. From September 2007, the card will be used to control access to the new City Campus East and out-of-hours access to other university buildings.
The wireless network allows students to work anywhere on campus, and the library provides them with a secure and welcoming environment that combines many services and facilities in one space, with long opening hours so that the students enjoy meeting and studying there.
The warnings emails and online renewal system has resulted in a 42% increase in online renewals and better circulation of stock for the benefit of other users.
Skills Plus has been integrated into academic programmes and students are able to include it in their Personal Development Portfolios.
