Update on Caird Library closure

20 Nov 2008

Further update on 4 December 2008: New Caird Library opening hours

Firstly, we are delighted to announce that by special arrangement, the Foyle reading room at the Royal Geographical Society, 1 Kensington Gore, London, SW7 2AR, will be made available to all users of the Caird Library on production of a valid Caird Library reader's ticket from 5 January 2009 until the Caird Library reopens in late spring/early summer 2009. Further details about this benefit will be publicised shortly. Please watch this space.

Below are responses to comments posted on the blog since my last post. I have put a title in the form of a question above each response, so you don't have to refer back to the original comment for each question.

1. When were announcements made about the temporary closure of the Caird Library?
A prior warning about the forthcoming closure of the Caird Library was made during 2008. An announcement was made on the National Maritime Museum's website in early August 2008 (this linked to the post: Library provision update). Other notices that appeared on the website, on printed notices in the Caird Library itself, and were sent to institutions such as the Greenwich Maritime Institute and to the Library's regular users, notifying users about forthcoming closed periods for the preparation of the move of the collections in 2009 (the short closed weeks were 11-22 February, 30 June-4 July, 29 September-10 October). These notices referred to the forthcoming building work, and disruption caused by the move of the collections to temporary offsite storage in 2009. However, no specific closure date of the Library could be confirmed at that time.
 
2. What consultation took place with users about the temporary closure?
We held a consultation in June 2008 on our website and via regular users of the Library (see post: Library provision 2009-20012) when we asked which days of the week our users would prefer the Library to open during 2009-2012 while the building work is in progress. The results of the consultation was that most users preferred us to open Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday.

3. How much of the development budget was allocated to maintaining library services?
None of the budget for the redevelopment has been specifically allocated to maintaining library services. Rather, the Museum has allocated staff time into the move and the enhancement of the collections.

4. When will the Library reopen?
The Library is closed from 20 December 2008 until late spring/early summer 2009 while we move the archive and library collections from the south west wing of the museum to temporary off-site storage, so the building work can begin. The Library will reopen as soon as possible after the move of the collections, in late spring/early summer 2009.

5. What kind of services and opening hours will operate during the redevelopment period?
When the Library reopens in late spring/early summer 2009, it will be open by appointment every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, from 10.00-16.45, and the first Saturday of each month, 10.00-13.00 and 14.00-16.45. This is one week day less than currently provided and three Saturdays less per month than current provision. We have not yet confirmed the number of requests per day that users will be able to make, but will do so in early 2009. The reduced opening hours will be in place until the new Research centre opens in the Sammy Ofer wing in 2012. We have not yet confirmed the opening hours for the new Research centre from 2012.

6. How will the new Research centre improve access to academic researchers?
In the newly opened Research centre in 2012 there will be better access to many of the museum's paper-based collections, including the archive and library collections, prints and drawings and sailing navy ship plans. Specifically for academic researchers, we will have more retrievals than is currently provided (because more of the frequently-requested collections will be held on-site), there will be easier access to the collections through enhanced online catalogue records, there will be more electronic resources for academics, and a quiet study area within the reading room for academics to use, separate from the less quiet zone for more casual visitors.
 
7. Is digitisation of the collections a greater priority than physical building improvements?
To digitise all of the manuscripts collections (over four and a half miles) is not affordable, and we do not have the resources available currently to digitise even the most frequently accessed material. We do not consider digitisation to be a greater priority than the physical building improvements and improved physical access to collections. The new improved storage accommodation will also provide better long-term preservation for the collections. However, the South West Wing Project does has a strong digital component, which will improve global access to documents.

8. Will manuscripts be digitised whilst stored off-site?
We are committed to making the collections, especially the manuscripts collection, more accessible via digitisation. We are currently seeking fund-raising opportunities to raise funds to digitise certain heavily used archival collections. The opening of the new Research centre in 2012 is a great incentive. Some of the paper-based collections, such as over 7,000 sailing navy ship plans, have already been digitised, and these will be available to view in the new Research centre. We have also digitised certain manuscripts for online resources such as 'Stories from the archive', and will continue to develop these.

9. In what ways is the Library closure and reduced service compatible with the strategic priorities of the museum?
We would argue that by keeping the archive and library collections accessible during the next three years, we are conforming to a key strategic priority 'to maintain, during this project-rich and change period, a core public offer to the on-site and online visitor that is stimulating, enjoyable and offers opportunity for research and learning'. Many specialist and academic libraries have had to close for a considerably longer period during their building work. For example, the Royal Geographical Society Library closed for approximately 18 months for redevelopment, reopening in June 2004; similarly, the Royal Society of Chemistry's Library & Information Centre closed in May 2008 for approximately 12 months for redevelopment.

10. Are there any plans to reconsider opening the Library during the move?
Due to lack of resources, there is currently no possibility of the plans being reconsidered or alternative means of access provided during closure. It is unfortunately not possible to provide access to the manuscript collections while they are being packed up and in transit to the temporary store.

We welcome your comments and feedback about our closure. We'll be continuing to post regular updates about the redevelopment to keep everyone informed.

Eleanor (Head of Archive & Library)

Further update on 4 December 2008: New Caird Library opening hours