Farewell Science Museum Library
The Science Musuem Library is moving, change is coming to the 3rd Floor.
This week the Science Museum announced that they have come to a mutual agreement with College to relocate the Science Museum Library as part of a scheme that will create a new Science Museum research centre at it’s South Kensington site.
The move, which will take place over approximately six weeks, will commence on Feburary 3rd, and will see the entire 3rd floor collection move to the Science Musuem’s library and holding facility in Wroughton.
The primary undergraduate student use of the Science Museum library has been as a study space, while the library often caters to the literary needs of the museum staff. While the move will see the removal of the entire collection, many books in the collection are also available at other museums like the British Library and the Senate House library, both in London. Students will also be able to visit the Wroughton library via appointment if they require books that are unique to the Science Museum.
The College Library staff have the concern of students as their top priority and will be working to ensure that disruption is minimal while the books are in transit. They will also provide alternate locations for the 36 study spaces available in the Sci. Museum library and will try to keep noise to a minimum. They will also be compiling a list of Frequently Asked Questions for students to consult about the move and how they can access books that they may need from the collection in the future.
Simon Harding-Roots, Imperial’s Chief Operations Officer, said: “I’m very pleased that, by working closely with the Science Museum, we have a plan for the future that works for both partners. On our South Kensington Campus space is at a premium, so freeing some up through the new arrangement will be incredibly helpful for our teaching and research activities. We look forward to working closely with the Science Museum, and its new research centre, in the years to come.”
After the departure of the Science Museum library, the space will remain empty while a commitee convenes in College to discuss the best way in which to use spaces around campus, lead by Professor Stephen Richardson Associate Provost (Institutional Affairs). Student feedback will be welcomed in considerations of future uses of the space.
In the meanwhile if students and staff have any queries regarding the changes taking place the library is available for communcation via library@imperial.ac.uk.
For more information about the Science Museum Library at Wroughton visit: http://bit.ly/1dZsx0d
