The Robinson Library summer visit is an annual event andthis year we were lucky enough to visit Durham University Library. We had a busy day, visiting the Main Library,as well as Palace Green Library and Durham Cathedral Library. Our host for theday was Jon Purcell, formerly the Robinson Library’s Deputy Librarian and now DurhamUniversity Librarian. As it was a longday this post is just some general highlights and reflections.
The main Library
Founded in 1832, Durham University is the third oldest universityin the country, although according to our host there is some dispute aboutthis! The library was originally established in 1833 on the Palace Greensite. By 1983 the Science Library wasextended to become the Main Library. The Main Library (also known as the BillBryson Library) was designed by Faulkner Brown, who was also responsible forthe design of the Robinson Library. The similarities are evident; the narrowwindows, staircases and the brick walls and exterior all felt very familiar.However the library has been undergoing a major redevelopment, the mostsignificant part of which is the new East Wing. This new extension increasesthe size of the library by 42 %. All theglass and steel used in this part of the library gives it a light and airy feelwhich is quite a contrast to the older part of the library which felt darkerand a little claustrophobic. The newentrance is a very welcoming, colourful space with lots of seating and a lovelypicture window. There is a combined Help and Information desk which I think isa really good idea; I’m sure students can sometimes find it a little confusingto be confronted by separate Reception and Service desks when they enter theRobinson Library.
Like a lot of academic libraries, a lack of study space is aproblem and Durham have addressed this by adding 500 more seats. The new extension means that Durham are nowlucky enough not to have to rely on their three stores, which will be closedand all books transferred to the main library. I think all academic librariesseem to have a constant battle between providing more study space but notlosing so much space to this that users won’t have access to the books theyneed. I don’t know if any library hasmanaged to resolve this problem yet.
As part of the redevelopment all staff, including liaisonlibrarians, now work in an open plan area. Although we have a similar area for Document Delivery Services in theRobinson Library, I’m not convinced this would work as our liaison staff oftenhave staff and students visitors and need some quieter space. And I’m sure ourtechnicians would feel harassed if they were so accessible all the time!
Palace Green Library
In the afternoon we visited Palace Green Library. Although Durham University Library wasestablished in the 19th century, this site has been around for a lot longer. Ithouses Special Collections, including Bishop Cosin's Library and the SudanArchive. This site has also been undergoing redevelopment, including thecreation of new galleries allowing items from Special Collections and archivesto be exhibited. Dr Sheila Hingley, Head of Heritage Collections gave us anoverview of this work.
Dr Sarah Price provided us with an introduction to the workof the Heritage Collections Education Team. Like Newcastle University Library,Durham University Library does a lot of outreach work with schools. This isobviously a very busy and exciting time for them as the arrival of theLindisfarne Gospels is now less than a year away.
We also visited Bishop Cosins Library which was built in1669. In contrast with the Main Library, Bishop Cosins and Bamburgh Library aresmaller and darker and the library smell is very distinctive, reminding me ofchurches for some reason! I think this atmosphere would have been moreconducive to working in silence. Interestinglythe library had a unique classification system; portraits above the bookcases identifiedthe subject. This would have been an easy way to organise a smaller collectionsuch as this, but I don’t think it would work successfully in a larger library. However the collection is alsoaccessible via the main catalogue.
Durham CathedralLibrary
For our final visit of the day we were lucky enough to visitDurham Cathedral Library and Monks Dormitory. The latter was particularlyimpressive for the ceiling constructed of huge beams made of whole trees. AgainI was struck by the quiet space. It’s no surprise that students like to keepthis place a secret, as it’s so distinct from the hustle and bustle of a modernlibrary space.
Overall this day was a good opportunity to visit other typesof libraries and appreciate the similarities and differences. It was good toget a sense of the older libraries, but as much as I enjoyed my visit I don’tthink I’d like to work there; I prefer the technology and conveniences of amodern academic library. Thanks to Jon Purcell and all the Durham Universitystaff who made it such a fascinating visit.
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