The library: like it or lump it

York University Library has come under scrutiny in the past months, prompting efforts to increase its opening hours and perfect the Key Text system to allow students better access to the books they need. Although the library is not yet open 24 hours a day, recent amendments to opening hours offer self-service until midnight, seven days a week, during term time.

Leicester University in particular has just built a spectacular new library costing an impressive £32million.

The J B Morrell Library is not yet rivalling the eternally available facilities of other universities, namely the less prestigious Leeds Metropolitan University, but the changes are a step in the right direction; albeit not yet offering nocturnal students a permanent home.

Leicester University in particular has just built a spectacular new library costing an impressive £32million. Boasting a 350-terminal PC zone and 13 group study rooms with plasma screens, the specification is certainly not lacking, but why is York not benefiting from a similar revamp?

The installation of a small PC zone on the ground floor of the library and further seating in the foyer improved the library surroundings, providing a more relaxed area to combat the stark silence of the upper floors. However, it is still questionable whether the existing computing facilities can really cater for the high demand at peak times; internet computer terminals are often fully occupied, and not all areas of the library allow a strong wireless signal to be obtained.

The clear problem is funding. The library building itself is in need of repairs, most urgently to remove the asbestos inherent within its structure. As The Yorker reported heavy rain in January 2009 caused the ceiling to leak on the second floor, restricting hundreds of English Literature and Education students’ access to the shelves. An area of the English Literature section still remains cordoned off. However, the proposed £13m refurbishment to rid the structure of asbestos and refurbish the interior will prevent further inconveniences like this from occurring.

In the 1970s, library expenditure accounted for 4% of total university spend compared to 3% in 2004

With such pressing structural issues, it is no wonder that only small steps can be taken to improve more general facilities and resources. The allocation of funds to university libraries has diminished over the years. In the 1970s, library expenditure accounted for 4% of total university spend compared to 3% in 2004. The ability to purchase new books and further copies of those already in the catalogue is therefore increasingly difficult.

What puts the library services at a further disadvantage is the increasing output of academic work. In science alone the output of articles is said to be increasing 3% year on year. It is therefore more difficult for students to gain balanced access to the most up to date knowledge. This lack of government funding immediately hinders libraries from keeping pace with research output, especially when journal prices also continue to rise.

The Key Text system helps distribute funding further, allowing money to be spent on new texts rather than multiple copies of existing ones. The ability to book specific times makes the service more convenient, but the remaining weakness is that not all books in high demand are transferred to this section. A whole seminar group cannot possibly be expected to read the same book within the space of a week without it being placed in Key Texts.

But what about league table positions? The University of York maintains a consistently high position in the league tables, in the Independent’s Complete University Guide, York came 10th in the UK, and in 2007 found its way into the top 100 universities in the world. With such a prestigious global and national position, you’d expect that the library would be up to similar standards. But again the insufficient funding is what it comes down to. Although the university is ranked 9th in the country by the Times Good University Guide, its facilities expenditure places it at just 24th, clearly highlighting its weakness in this area.

But despite the inescapable obstacle of money, clear efforts are being made to improve the library’s deteriorating structure and maintain access to a range of books, both old and new. So what we should all be proud of is that, despite the many frustrating encounters with the library we experience during our degree, we are still part of a university that has achieved the standards to earn it a prestigious reputation.

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