Back in January we asked you the following question via a quick poll:
“Should the Library close overnight in the summer vacation to help reduce the University’s carbon footprint?”
We provided the following background information:
Headcount data taken from the Library shows a significant drop-off between mid-June and mid-September. On average, there are only 3-4 students in the Library between the hours of midnight and 8am.
Closing the Library throughout this period would reduce costs, energy, and carbon emissions. The carbon saved would be the equivalent to the annual carbon emissions from heating 6 average UK homes*.
*UK Committee on Climate Change
554 people responded, of whom 75% said the Library should close and 25% said it should not. We followed up in April with some focus groups and spoke to all levels of students about their requirements in the Library over the summer.
As a result of this consultation we will be making the following changes from Saturday 11 June:
- The Library will open 8am-midnight 7 days a week
- MySurrey Hive will remain open 24 hours 7 days a week
- 24 hour computer labs will continue to be available and their locations promoted in both the Library and MySurrey Hive
24/7 opening will resume on Monday 12 September.
We hope that these changes mean we can support a reduction in the University’s carbon footprint whilst still providing the summer study facilities valued by students. We’ll be reviewing these arrangements and asking for feedback during and after the summer, but if you have any questions in the meantime don’t hesitate to contact library@surrey.ac.uk.
