The Fenton Library

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bill Bryson, University Chancellor and Patron of the Fenton Library Appeal, recently visited the Fenton Library.  He appears here with the College's Principal, Dr Cassidy, in the West Room, which is near to completion.

The Appeal has gone well, having raised over 35% of the cost of the new library.

Thanks to all who have contributed.

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The Fenton Library was completed at the end of September 2006.  The three-room library has added around 30 study carrels and additional book shelving, bringing the total number of study spaces in College to over 100 (depending on the spread of books on tables).

 

The Bailey Room

The views on the left (before) and below (after) are of the Bailey Room, the largest room in the new library.  Measuring 57 by 12 feet, it houses 10 study carrels and provides plenty of additional shelving.

 

 

 

Each of the three new rooms has 100 MHz fibre-optic links to the University's IT network as well as wireless capability.  Indeed, all of the Chad's libraries are now internet-enabled.

 

 

 

 

 

These are before and after views of the Bailey Room from the other (North) end.  This room contains Philosophy and related disciplines as well as the Social Sciences.

 

The mostly-individual study cubicles provide a light, electrical outlets, personal shelving and computer access.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Middle Room

The pictures below and on the right show the Middle Room of the Fenton Library.  The reinforcing steel work is visible: the steel was added to support the stone roof and also to support and reinforce the floor to take the additional weight of library books.

 

 

The vertical steel beams have been enclosed with bookcases, and the study carrels are positioned between the uprights.  This enhances the feeling of privacy for students and helps to keep noise to a minimum.

 

 

 

 

The pictures on the left and the right show the Middle Room finished, with beams left exposed.  A narrower space than the Bailey Room, the carrels in the Middle Room are more secluded than in the Bailey Room.

The Middle Room contains the College's science collection.

 

 

 

The picture on the left shows one of the individual study carrels.

 

 

 

 

The East Room

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The East Room is the same size as the Middle Room, measuring 27 by 12 feet, and providing just over 300 feet of study space.  The East window overlooks the college garden.  Like the Middle Room, it contains eight private carrels, offering privacy and quiet.