Evaluation of University Library Buildings in France The Second Survey ( )

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Amice Bradford
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1 Evaluation of University Library Buildings in France The Second Survey ( ) Did we succeed in building and restructuring academic libraries in the past decade? Marie-Françoise BISBROUCK Director of Library Services Paris-Sorbonne University 14th LIBER Seminar Budapest & Debrecen 8-12 april 2008

2 Introduction Historical perspective (1) The very fast growth in student numbers : : students - End of the 1970 s : students - End of the 1980 s : students - Nowadays : students, but a certain stagnation over 5 or 6 years Growth of the number of universities : : 23 universities : 47 universities - Today : 85 universities

3 Historical perspective (2) Surface of academic buildings : : 4.5 million sqm built, of which sqm for libraries (110 buildings) : No building : sqm for library buildings (150 buildings) Since 1991, various academic-building development plans : - «University 2000» : «The Eleventh Plan» : «University of the Third Millenium», U3M : (Part One) - «University of the Third Millenium», U3M : (Part Two) First Survey : dated ; concerned the years ; examined 30 operations out of 110 performed

4 The new investigation to discover now! Aims : - To determine the level of changes -To measure the hoped-for progression regarding the results of the First Survey - 22 useful responses out of 28 - First observation : most of the colleagues were very glad to have the opportunity of re-opening their memories to give constructed answers concerning their new buildings - The experience had been one of the highlights of their career - Satisfaction basically centred on : * having been capable of managing a sometimes difficult operation * involving interlocutors quite different from the habitual actors * having «dared» to imagine totally new volumes to accommodate new types of usage s or changing in thinking

5 The Questionnaire The purpose was to examine several angles : - the roll-out of the construction (or structural alterations) process - the points of conformity or divergence between the objectives and the results from the completed construction - in the event of divergence, identifying of reasons - the level of quality in construction of the building - the quality of dialogue between the various parties - the additional tasks (reorganisation of services, of library collections, data processing, removals, etc - the staff necessary to run the building - the future extension possible - the organisation of public areas, internal services, library storage, etc - the new technical equipment introduced in the new building - any tips of interest to other colleagues - the three majors qualities and major shortcomings of the building

6 Output Data First Results organised in three major categories : 1. Factors relating to buildings as physical entities : site, type of building, number of programme phases, opening hours, surface areas and type of area (quantitative data, to compare against results obtained from the study) 2. Library opening date and duration of works 3. Design of library areas (to be examined later)

7 Location % of total operations (in 2007) % of total operations (1999) Campus 59.1% 40% In-town 40.9% 60% Building Single-purpose building 77.5% 56.7% Integrated 22.7% 43.5% Construction 72.7% 93.5% Restructuring 27.5% 6.7% Type of programme Singl phase 68.2% 83.5% Extension capability Two or more phases 31.8% 16.7% Yes 45.5% 44%

8 Physical features (1) 1. Sites of libraries between town and out of town campuses: - First survey : many operations on newer universities built in the city centres - Second survey : library reconstruction on existing campuses 2. Single-tranche or two or more tranches? 17 buildings out of 22 are single-purpose facilities ; 5 libraries located in teaching centers 3. Construction or restructuration? 15 constructions ; 7 major restructuring buildings (of which 4 with additional floor area, but limited) 4. Extension capability? 10 operations out of 22, but limited surface. 5. Weekly library opening hours : average : 54h10mn in 2007 ; 54h40mn in

9 Physical features (2) General breakdown of library areas per major service-type Total areas : sqm 22 buildings New-build : sqm 15 operations Restructuring: sqm 7 operations Average area per operation : sqm (1999 : sqm) Major service-type : Public services : sqm = 55,5% (1999 : 57,2%) Internal departments : sqm = 8,5% (1999 : 9,2%) Storage : sqm = 10,7% (1999 : 14,1%) Circulation, toilets, plant rooms: sqm = 25,2% (1999 : 18,7%) Area per user ratio : 0,93 sqm/user for new built ; 0,60 sqm/user : restructuring operations average : 0,71 sqm/user on the basis of students concerned 0,73 sqm/user was considered in 1989 as the «absolute poverty threshold»

10 Physical features (3) 1. Date of opening to public : Most operations programmed between 1999 and 2001 opened their doors from 2003 onwards, and particularly in 2005 and Duration of works Average performance time 2007 : 59% of operations last over 6 years 5 out of 22 : from 8 to 10 years (The average performance was : 4,5 to 5 years in the 1999 survey) The question of financing was crucial for several of the operations. 5 operations out of 22 were performed in two phases

11 Design of library areas 1. Public services (1) Physical organisation of the library building Number of floors * single-storey : 3 libraries * 2-storey : 5 libraries * 3-storey : 5 libraries * 4-storey : 4 libraries * 5-storey: 2 libraries * Over 5 storeys : 3 libraries (of which 1 with 6 storeys and 2 with 8 storeys) * 3 libraries below sqm have only 1 public level * 4 libraries out of 5 greater than sqm have 4 public levels The results are not much different from those of the previous survey.

12 Public services (2) 1. Reader seating trends new reading-room seats : average of 785 seats per library (Growth of + 69% with regard to the survey of 1999 : 464 seats per library). BUT it represents only 1 seat for 12 students = in slight regression with regard to the 1999 survey (1 seat for 11,24 users) 2. Use of micro-computers (1) It was one of the dark points of the 1999 survey Of the 14 libraries answering the question in 2007 : reader-seats out of are fitted with electrical sockets (average of 361 seats per library) ; 47% of reading-room seats have Internet access. 19 libraries out of 22 are fitted with Wi-Fi technology

13 Public services (3) Use of micro-computers (2) multimedia workstations ; average of 73,3 per library (1999 : 712 workstations for 32 libraries : average of 22 workstations per library) HOWEVER : despite these significant advances 1 workstation has to serve an average of 128 students! BUT : around 60% of the students have now their own portable computer, which was not the case in Training room 19 libraries out of 22 have a training-room (with an average of 23 seats per room) 4. Group work-rooms 141 group work-rooms for 20 libraries (average of 7,15 per library), BUT the demand remains very high, given changes in teaching and teachers methods

14 Public services (4) Unfortunately, as in 1999, new libraries offer only very limited amenity and social areas: - None of the libraries have a true café, as observed in many European countries - 2 libraries out of 22 have cloakrooms and lockers - 9 out of 22 mention presence of small «salons» for leasure-reading or just for waiting a friend Except computers and multimedia workstations, little «fantasy» as regards certain technical developments: only 9 libraries mentioned the existence of public-access loan/return automated systems, and none of the libraries has an automated transfer-system for routing collections between stacks and library counter or internal services. Access of certain publics to libraries outside the normal opening hours is practically unheard of, except in the case of computer rooms (but only in 2 libraries)

15 Public services (5) 12 libraries have a general «culture-space» for students Only 10 declare having an exhibition space (but in 6 cases situated in the lobby) Only 4 have a conference room or a public meeting room 5 out of 21 have an area reserved for visually handicapped people with the appropriate equipment Concerning free-access collections, the percentage has greatly evolved since 1999 : Only 5 libraries out of 22 have 50% or less of their collections in free-access and 7 have 80% or more. The average of volumes of monographs in free-access is (+ 92% with regard of the 1999 results ; average : volumes) BUT it remains a comparatively mediocre result compared with the Anglo-Saxon libraries.

16 Storage In terms of storage layout : - 15 libraries have a single-floor storage (68,2%) - 5 employ two floors - 1 three floors and 1 five floors - 6 libraries have standard shelving only - 8 employ mobile shelving only - and 8 use both types of installation 2 major concerns are noteworthy : - 10 out of 20 libraries have water pipes going through the storage spaces! - the filling rate of the storage spaces very soon after the opening of the building : * filling rate below 30% : 2 libraries * between 30 and 50% : 4 libraries * between 50 and 80% : 4 libraries * more than 80% : 9 libraries (of which 3 are saturated)

17 Internal departments for library staff - The useful area per employee (calculate in FTE) is satisfying, 17 libraries out of 22 having more than 15 sqm/staff member - This average area is appreciably greater than previously and in each library there are areas allocated to training, kitchenette, staff cloackrooms, multi-purpose storage, etc. - The design of internal departments is overall very satisfactory (not more than 2 levels, except in one «big» library) The library area «managed» per employee (in FTE) : sqm in sqm in worsening situation or good design of areas requiring less staff?

18 Interim conclusion (1) - Less shortcomings reported by the colleagues than previously - Colleagues are more connoisseur in terms of library construction - With sqm built between 1992 and 2007, in approximately 150 projects, every region has several new or renovated library buildings which can be visited - The training effort in the field of library building continues year after year since 1992 in courses lasting four or five days, each course being attended by 12 to 15 persons Improvements mentioned by colleagues - Few modifications to the programmes of the libraries during the course of works - Only four or five colleagues mentioned relational difficulties with partners (planners, architects, local authorities, etc) - The public is visiting the new buildings more and more : * + 20 to + 56% additional readers * + 24 to + 89% additional loans * + 36 to + 58% additional entries

19 Interim conclusion (2) BUT some subjects of discontent remain : * with regards to teachers * more numerous group workroom on demand * lack of staff to run the new building * libraries «enclosed» in academic centres The three greatest qualities : * brightness * light * legibility of spaces * optimal site of the building on the campus or in-town * the library as strong architectural signal on the campus * overall comfort * efficient organisation of spaces * quality of treatment of interior areas and comfort of furniture * aesthetics of the building, etc.

20 Interim conclusion (3) In terms of shortcomings Many problems are of technical nature : * ventilation and air-conditioning in public areas * temperature disparity * partitions in public areas required by emergency services * complexity in running ever more technical buildings * poor weatherproofing of facades * acoustics Difficulties to correct the stated faults A question

21 To conclude (the very end!) Some words of a colleague: «The library is considered as the architectural symbol of the Campus It is visited regularly during all official welcome s to the University...Many of the university events now take place at the library, such as symposia and study days, and the university council meetings The library has become a forum for cultural events: concerts, poetry-readings, dance production, etc The library has also became the architectural symbol of the campus: the surrounding buildings have been renovated in unison with the colours of the library.finally, the associated libraries have asked to be integrated into the new central library thanks to the general perception that it provides as a place of work and study». For the near future : - U3M Part 2 ( ): sqm to build - After 2013 : sqm unprotected library buildings to renovate

22 Thank you for your attention More information?

23 Bibliothèque de l Université de Versailles - Saint Quentin - en - Yvelines

29 Bibliothèque de l Université de Reims Campus de la Croix-Rouge

45 Bibliothèque de l Université Denis Diderot (Paris VII) Grands Moulins

64 Bibliothèque de l Université du Mans

83 Bibliothèque de l Université de Dijon Droit-Lettres

86 Bibliothèque de l Université de Montpellier Droit Economie - Gestion

89 Bibliothèque du Centre européen de documentation sur la Mer CEDM Brest Just to dream!

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