REMARKABLE SPACES
Imagine2030
Annual report 2024-25
Library teaching spaces
The Library’s Teaching, Learning and Students (TLS), Library Experience (LEx) and Digital Support Services Teams have worked collaboratively to improve Library teaching spaces. The Alan Gilbert Learning Commons (AGLC) training room, home to the Library’s My Learning Essentials workshops, has been refurbished keeping accessibility at the heart of the design by improving technology and equipment.
Additionally, we have also created a dedicated space in Main Library to deliver online teaching sessions. As demand for flexible and online learning continues, enabling the Library to enhance the quality of online teaching for staff and students by providing instructors with the necessary tools and environment, ensures a superior learning experience for students.
Audio Visual room
In the beautiful historic area of the Main Library, we have created a new listening and viewing suite that allows students to access all our audio visual collections in comfort, providing the technology they need to be able to enjoy our vast collections of vinyl, CDs and DVDs.
The room provides a sofa and a large screen to get the full benefit of feature films and documentaries. We also provide a number of streaming services for classical, pop and jazz music, as well as films from Kanopy and BFI Player. New for this year is a range of locally-hosted films for which we’ve negotiated digital site licences, with content from providers like Women Make Movies and over a dozen titles from Documentary Educational Resources.
Working with screenplay writer Jonathan Hourigan, one of The University of Manchester’s creative academics, we’ve secured access to the eerily beautiful Bosnian film ‘At the door of the house, who will come knocking’. We also have access to ‘!AITSA’, which explores the connection between ancient spiritual knowledge and modern astrophysics. Local hosting means we can guarantee stable access to films throughout the academic year.
Main Library Redefined
Our Main Library Redefined project is set to transform the building at the heart of campus life, considering the total student and staff experience of our Library, learning spaces, and supporting services.
This year marks a major step forward in this project with the redevelopment of the Muriel Stott building and courtyard. The new space which opened in September provides:
- A green space at the heart of Main Library, with designs based on student feedback and usage data.
- 36 bookable silent study spaces with spacious desks, IT provision, charging sockets, and task lighting.
- A calm indoor study zone optimised for natural light and sensory needs, supporting neurodivergent users.
- Accessibility upgrades, including six fully accessible desks, rise-and-fall PC kits, and improved layout and entry points.
- Nature-themed artwork drawn from the Library’s own Special Collections, and chosen by our Library staff.
The new outdoor courtyard offers further workspace options with both formal study areas for use in any weather and more laid-back seating for relaxation.
In addition to this major refurbishment, we worked closely with the University Directorate of Estates and Facilities to make other key upgrades to the building, in response to student feedback.
- A complete refurbishment of our toilets and the creation of additional toilets, including all gender, further accessible and female toilet provision.
- The creation of a new Cosy Campus space and refurbishment of the Library café. Working closely with the Students Union to plan this area, the space provides a more relaxed and quieter environment meeting our students’ needs.
Completing the Next Chapter project
The John Rylands Next Chapter project phase 2 reached completion. Parts of the project enhance the visitor experience:
- A new solid bronze entrance portal creates a more visible and striking entrance to the modern building. The portal is sculpted to be reminiscent of book pages and etched to evoke the adjacent stone arches.
- The shop and reception area have been refurbished to create a more welcoming space for visitors and a better working environment for staff.
- Improved wayfinding helps visitors navigate the modern and historic parts of the building.
Interpretation in the historic building redefines the visitor journey, sharing more of the history of the Library as visitors move through the building. Gallery spaces have been redesigned to create a better environment for special collections, including state-of-the-art display cases and improved lighting.
- Visitors can now explore the Library’s history through a range of items from the collections in the Collections Gallery. A new special exhibition gallery provides better facilities for temporary exhibitions. The first exhibition in this new gallery was The Secret Public.
Other parts of this project phase include:
- Improvements to staff offices including a new staff quiet space and meeting room.
- New plant deck on the Library roof to better control temperature and humidity in the building
Built with Shorthand