Library refurbishment
The Harry Fairhurst Building
Entrance to the University Library
The Library Cafe
The University of York Library has completed its £20 million refurbishment and is a facility that provides a world-class library for students, staff and researchers. The refurbished Library offers a range of 21st-century technology and media-rich learning, teaching and research environments in proximity to specialist support and physical collections. The ground floor of the Library is also home to the Library Cafe.
Overview of the project
Since its beginnings in 1964 the Library has been extended but it needed further refurbishment to provide the range of different study facilities required by students and staff in the 21st century.
The refurbishment project was extensive and most areas of the JB Morrell Library were affected by the work. The project began on the second floor in 2010 and followed a phased approach, completing one floor/part of a floor at a time, until completion in February 2012.
Walls and ceilings were be replaced, and the works included an asbestos removal programme. In 2011 the project saw the Library building extending west to connect up with the former Computer Science building, now the Harry Fairhurst building. This addition significantly enlarged the Library, and has allowed us to offer new improved study and research space.
As well as making improvements to lighting, heating and ventilation in the existing building, new study areas have been provided and include:
- zoned silent and quiet study areas
- IT Studies (including a silent cluster)
- group study rooms
All areas are IT enabled with either fixed PCs, power sockets and there is wireless throughout.
What's happening now?
The project officially completed on 24 February 2012 but there are still some activities for the Library to finalise.
- Furniture installation for the Morrell Lounge area opposite the help desk arrives in a few weeks.
- The Music Collection and move of the CDs and DVDs from the JBM Library to the Harry Fairhurst building will begin at the start of the Summer Vacation 2012
- Installation of furniture and equipment for the Music Collection and the Audio Visual area will also take place at the start of the Summer Vacation
The Harry Fairhurst building
The Harry Fairhurst building provides IT-rich study and research areas. Students and researchers have access to a large number of new spaces including: reading areas, group studies, open collaborative zones, specialist research areas, research hotels and a bookable PC classroom.
Further information about the Harry Fairhurst building.