User:Scrapheap/Sandbox
Loughborough University Library
The Pilkington Library opened in 1980. The Library is named after Lord Pilkington, the Chairman of glass manufacturers Pilkington Brothers (1949-73) and first Chancellor of the University[1] from 1966-80. It was designed by the Faulkner-Brown, Hendy, Watkinson and Stonor architects. The Library building, which covers 7,777 square metres[2], is often described as an upside down pyramid. Unusually, entrance to the building is via a walkway onto the 3rd floor.
The majority of the third floor is a space called Open3 which is an open area in which people can study in groups[3], make use of some of the 140 workstations[4], chat or relax with a coffee from Cafe 641 which is also located on the third floor[5].
The second and first floors below provide the more traditional facilities associated with libraries including over 400,000 books, 4000 printed journals[6], areas for quiet study and individual study carrels[7]. In step with the ongoing expansion in electronic information provision, access for University members to over 6000 e-journals[8] and upwards of 200 databases is available via workstations spread throughout the Library. Members of Loughborough University can access many of these electronic resources from off-campus. Non-members are able to utilise the Library Catalogue and access to a number of general databases is also possible via the Web.
All floors of the building are covered by a number of Wireless networks including Eduroam - the JANET Roaming Service. In 2008, Rfid (radio frequency identification) technology was introduced to move to book self issue and return.
The Library also houses the University Archives which charts the history of the University from its early days as Loughborough College to its early incarnation as a University of Technology, the acquisition of Loughborough College of Education 1952-77 and Loughborough College of Art & Design to the modern University of today. The David Lewis Collection[9] is also available in the Library. Included in this collection is historical material about Leicestershire and its topography.
As a major centre for research, an Institutional Repository has been established to preserve and provide open access to the University’s research output.