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Annual Report 2011-12

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Annual Report 2011-12 Annual Report 2011/12 Introduction 2 Building a Better Future 4 Weston Library (New Bodleian) 5 Book Storage Facility (BSF) 7 Radcliffe Observatory Quarter 9 History Faculty Library – move 9 Bodleian Library Reading Rooms 10 Taylor Institution Library 10 Philosophy and Theology Faculties Library 10 Radcliffe Camera 10 China Centre Library 11 Health Care Libraries 11 Other Libraries 11 Associated Projects 12 Book Moves 12 Barcodingt.o.c. 12 Service Provision 14 Service changes and improvements across our libraries 15 Technologies and electronic resources to enhance our services 19 Research Support 22 Collaboration 24 Digital Bodleian 26 Digital priorities 27 New technologies 27 Digitization foundations 29 Digital Bodleian 29 Digitization projects 29 Special Collections 32 The Collections 36 Collection building, acquisitions and management 37 Protecting the collections for current and future generations 40 Scholarly communications 43 Outreach and Widening Access 44 Exhibitions 45 Events and public engagement 49 Publishing 50 Communications 51 Other outreach activities 51 Leadership and Staff Talent 54 Library management and staff changes 55 Curators 56 Human resources and staff development 57 Finance and Development 58 Finance 59 Development 59 Facts and Figures 62 1 Introduction The year to 31 July 2012 continues a period opening to readers in late 2014. Plans to at the same time Libraries continued in their research libraries such as Harvard, the New flourishing, contributing their expertise and of transformation and change across the improve and optimise spaces were under second year of a three-year programme of York Public Library and the British Library, determination to give readers at Oxford and Bodleian Libraries as we work to update way, including the move of the History cuts to their University and HEFCE funding, experienced the stress of transition with abroad the highest level of service. our estates and services for twenty-first- Faculty Library and a review of the use of with a target of reducing funding from these some readers strongly opposed to some of In sum, the Bodleian Libraries, despite century library provision. Some of the space and services in the Radcliffe Camera. sources by £1.78 million by the end of the the reorganisations being implemented. the stresses of the digital age, despite the major initiatives launched in 2010/11 paved Over the spring and summer our Health 2012/13 financial year. The resulting dialogue has been an pressures of an economy in recession, have the way for the year ahead: by the start Care Libraries were reconfigured for more These many activities occurred with opportunity to engage more intensely in continued to grow and to prosper. Even as of 2011/12 we had moved 7 million books, efficient use of space and a working group only limited interruption in services despite the understanding of the needs of readers electronic use skyrockets, use of our reading journals, maps and other archival materials, of academics and librarians developed a the inconvenience of book moves and and to communicate more clearly about rooms and our collections remains high, with Moore i and had come close to the end of a major proposal for a new China Centre Library alterations to spaces. We continue to receive the way trends in higher education, such as the consequence that total use far outstrips l/Anthony barcoding project. The Book Storage Facility to be created in the new China Centre at positive feedback from our readers and economic and technological factors, have anything previously recorded. Ma (BSF) in Swindon had opened, and we St Hugh’s, replacing the existing Chinese users: in the 2012 National Student Survey affected the development of libraries. Many In the coming years we can anticipate a Oxford continued to refine the process of book loans Studies Library on Walton Street. At the (NSS) the Bodleian Libraries achieved a readers have encouraged the Bodleian to further opening up of the Bodleian through and operations at, and from, the BSF. The same time we initiated a Scan and Deliver 98% satisfaction rate, coming in second for continue to introduce innovations and to exhibitions, programmes and digital access Gladstone Link was in operation, creating a service to expedite access to our resources satisfaction out of 295 academic libraries in become more efficient in the use of scarce at the same time as we expand the magical dynamic new space for readers; and a new and we continued to expand both print and the UK. resources. With the oversight and support experience of reading in a great library with Integrated Library System was implemented digital collections, building our digital assets Oxford is seeing unprecedented change of the Curators of the University Libraries, collections that offer discovery and insight at the cusp of the new fiscal year, in August and improving our digital capabilities. in its libraries, reflecting shifting patterns who include more than a dozen members of to both students and world researchers. 2011. This year our outreach activities – from of publication and scholarship, the growth Congregation, the Bodleian Libraries have I hope all who read this report will join The success of these past projects exhibitions and displays to lectures and of production and use of electronic made steady progress in improving the state me in thanking the Libraries staff who have provided momentum for the year ahead. events – have never been more popular. resources, and new roles for librarians in of its physical facilities, building exemplary worked so tirelessly to achieve the successes Our capital and estates projects continued We built on valuable partnerships with data management, teaching and outreach. collections, and increasing access to its documented here, and who have done the with groundbreaking work on the New institutions from around the world which At the same time, demand for traditional voluminous holdings. Library staff, despite best they could to chart a steady course, Bodleian (Weston Library project) as we took advantage of our loans programme or services such as quiet reading rooms and their challenging situation in which almost even in turbulent times. excavated down to the core of the building hosted exhibitions featuring our collections. access to printed books and manuscripts 40% of them are operating in temporary stacks to begin the upward redevelopment Fundraising was highly successful, with more remains strong. Sometimes the change is and crowded conditions while awaiting Sarah E. Thomas of a new world-class facility, targeted for than £13 million received from benefactors; disruptive. The Bodleian, like other major the completion of the Weston Library, are Bodley’s Librarian 2 3 The Bodleian Libraries offer environments that inspire the best research and learning, whether they are our traditional libraries or our cutting-edge digital services. This year saw transformations across numerous subject libraries while work continued apace on the redevelopment of the Weston (New Bodleian) Library. Meanwhile the Book BUILDING A Storage Facility, which opened in autumn 2010, became an integral facility in our BETTER FUTURE service. Weston Library (New Bodleian) The Weston Library, created through the renovation of the New Bodleian Library, is designed to provide enhanced research facilities for scholars; to protect high-value, high-risk collections; and to promote the collections for wider understanding. Key features of the library include: 41km of static and mobile shelving, a new lecture Kirtley Toby theatre, two exhibition galleries, and Weston Library under wraps the Blackwell Hall. This year saw great progress in the development of the building a period of thirteen months. The significant a good impression of the new public spaces as we head towards completion of the transformative effect of the work to date on the ground floor, such as the exhibition construction phase in autumn 2014 (with a is evident on the Broad Street elevation. galleries and the impressive scale of the formal or official opening in March 2015). The ground floor windows and internal central public area of the Blackwell Hall. Onsite the extensive demolition phase walls have been removed to create the wide On other levels, the removal of walls has of the project was completed in July this arcade that will form the new entrance revealed the layout of the enquiries area and year as planned. Following the careful to the Weston Library, giving a sense of seminar rooms, and the configuration of installation of the 37m-high tower crane the public welcome all visitors will feel on the conservation workshops. Throughout, into a shaft cut through the building, all approaching and entering the building. preserving and restoring the original eleven storeys of the central section of the Inside, a number of internal cross walls have features of the Giles Gilbert Scott design of Artist ’s Impression of Weston Library building were removed, floor by floor, over been removed and it is now possible to get the New Bodleian within the redevelopment 4 5 have been poured, as have the half-metre- Finally, design work has been progressing thick walls of the strong room, ensuring the in support of the programme of subcontract highest level of security for the storage of procurement, drawing up detailed the Bodleian’s Special Collections. specifications for over 40 render packages. The stonework on the south and east The £80.4 million project (approximately elevations, including the carved cartouches £70 million has been raised so far) will above the new entrance, and the original be completed in summer 2014, and staff aluminium windows have been beautifully and collections will return in Michaelmas cleaned, and repairs have also been carried term 2014. The Bodleian recognises the out to masonry and jointing. This has significant impact that the Garfield Weston involved consultation with English Heritage Foundation’s £25 million gift has made to and other organisations on best practice the project, and is most grateful for the role on cleaning and protecting the stonework.
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