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Loughborough University Library
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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 an open learning environment (called Open3) in which people can study in groups[3], use IT facilities, chat or relax with a coffee from Cafe 641[3]. The third floor also contains a short loan collection, a reference collection and an AV collection[4]
The second and first floors below provide the more traditional facilities associated with libraries including over 450,000 monographs, 90,000 bound serials[2], areas for quiet study and individual study carrels[3]. In step with the ongoing expansion in electronic information provision, access for University members to over 6000 e-journals[2] 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.
All floors of the building are covered by a number of Wireless networks including Eduroam - the JANET Roaming Service[5].
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[6] is also available in the Library. Included in this collection is historical material about Leicestershire and its topography[6].
The University as a major centre for research[7] has established an Institutional Repository, which is maintained by the Library, to preserve and provide open access to the University’s research output[8].
There is an urban myth about the Library building sinking due to the weight of the books not being taken into account when the building was designed. This myth originated from an April fools article published in the University's Students Union magazine. The urban myth isn't true, though the Library is still asked about it[9]
- ^ History - Chancellors of Loughborough University
- ^ a b c Loughborough University Library - About Your Library
- ^ a b c Loughborough University Library - Learning and study spaces in the Library
- ^ Loughborough University Library - AV and Photocopying
- ^ JANET Roaming Service
- ^ a b Loughborough University Library - David Lewis Collection
- ^ Loughborough University - Research
- ^ Loughborough University - Institutional Repository
- ^ Loughborough University Library - FAQ : Is it true that the Library building is sinking?