Tuesday, January 21, 2014

Brynmor Jones Library redevelopment: Floor 7 reopens

What’s going on?

·         The new 7th floor will open on Thursday 23 January.  This exciting area contains the Observatory, a flexible learning space with over 170 seats, the Cube, a controlled environment that will eventually contain the BJL collection of rare books, three group study rooms, and an information and resource point.  There are fabulous views across the city.  The rare books destined for the Cube are currently being stored at the Hull History Centre where they have been assessed by experts who are now doing conservation work on some of the more fragile and vulnerable items.  Once this work is finished the Rare Books will be moved to the 7th floor and will be available for consultation.  The arrangements for booking an appointment will be advertised in the next few weeks.   

·         All the new toilets on floors 3, 4 & 7 will be functional from Thursday. Refurbishment of the stairwells toilets and the stairwells themselves will commence next week.  As a safety precaution, and to allow the contractors to start this work, the west stairs will be used for emergency evacuation only and the east stairs for general circulation and evacuation.  Routes will be clearly signed and staff will be on hand to assist.

·          Books destined for the new 6th floor are expected to move from the ground floor decant area on Monday 27 January.  These books are Music (M – MT), Classics (PA) and Languages and Literature (P –PT).  This floor is planned to open the week before the middle of February and will confirm the exact date as soon as it is known.


·         The opening of floor 5 should take place before the end of February and of floor 2 in March.