A month ago I sent the email below asking for advice during our upcoming refurbishment. Thank you to everyone who replied. I've condensed down your answers- I hope you agree with what I think you said!
The most important aspect is ensuring good communication with library users and/or staff so that they know what is happening and why. An excellent example of good practice for this is Weston Education Centre Library (King's College) who have put their information into this clear web site. http://www.kcl.ac.uk/library/transformation/dhsummer.aspx
Many libraries increased the borrowing limit and/ or loan period for their users. This was especially useful if the refurbishment was only for a brief time but it always ensured that borrowers were discouraged from repeated visiting.
Despite encouraging visitors, it was felt to be good to keep the library open during this time. This was done either by moving the key texts to a nearby, similar library (such as a local university) or having a smaller library open elsewhere in the building.
A number of libraries also offered free interlibrary loans to their users to reduce the impact of the reduced number of books. Others encouraged staff to work from home (where viable.)
I hope this information helps anyone else planning similar upheaval.
Best wishes
Rebecca
From: Jones Rebecca
Sent: 16 May 2012 14:43
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Libraries during refurbishment
Here at the RCN we are planning for a refurbishment. This will mean the library will be based in one room elsewhere in the building while the work is done, and we will only have access to a small proportion of our normal stock. This will last about 6 months.
We're investigating issues like loans etc during the interim period and would like to hear from other institutions who have been in a similar situation.
When you had your refurbishment, did you increase the number of loans or renewals possible to members or did you just maintain the same privileges? We want to discourage people from coming in to the library too often during this time but are not quite sure how to go about it. It would be interesting to know how you dealt with this problem when you were going through a similar experience. Did you have any other problems that were an issue during this period?
I'll post any responses received on here in a few weeks' time.
Thank you
Rebecca
Rebecca Siān Jones
Service Delivery Information Assistant
RCN Library, Archives and Information Services:
Royal College of Nursing
Room M03
20 Cavendish Square
London, W1G 0RN
[log in to unmask],uk<mailto:[log in to unmask]>
Tel: 020 7647 3921
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