Eastern Learning Hub construction in the ERC Library
Latest update: Friday 16 th May 2008
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The Latest News
ERC Microforms Collection relocated to Baillieu Library Microforms Collection - Monday 15th September 2008.
ERC Temporary Closure – Saturday 5th July 2008.
Due to noise level of construction works, it is necessary at short notice to close the ERC Library on Saturday 5 July 2008.
Collections on ERC Level 1 Inaccessible: Wednesday 21 st May 2008 to Thursday 29 th May 2008 inclusive.
To enable the next stage of the Eastern Precinct Project to proceed, the collections on ERC Level 1 will be inaccessible from Wednesday 21 st May to Thursday 29 th May inclusive. This covers the following Dewey ranges:
Bf 740 to Bf 999;
B 900 to B 999
If staff or students need to access material from that collection, they should put in a request at the Loans Desk on Level 1. Materials requested will be available for collection from the Loans Desk within one working day.
Please be assured that the Library and Property and Campus Services are doing their utmost to ensure that library services and collections access at the ERC can be maintained with minimum disruption.
Property and Campus Services appreciate your understanding whilst the construction of this important project proceeds.
ERC Temporary Closure – March 8th and 9th 2008.
Due to circumstances beyond the Library’s control, it was necessary at short notice to close the ERC Library on Saturday and Sunday, 8th and 9th March 2008. The ERC Library re-opened at 12.15 on Monday 10th March. However, because of the nature of the construction works taking place in the ERC and surrounding buildings, the ERC, or parts of it, may be subject to closure at short notice from time to time. Staff and students will be kept informed via the ERC webpage, email, and the student portal. The Library would therefore advise that, as a precautionary measure, staff and students check the Student Portal notices or the Library web site at http://www.lib.unimelb.edu.au/collections/erc/relocation.html prior to visiting the ERC in order to ensure that it is open.
Change of access to Charles Pearson Lecture Theatre
Due to construction works currently taking place in the Charles Pearson Foyer, access to the Charles Pearson Lecture Theatre will be via the Doug McDonell building's basement level of the eastern staircase until further notice. Signage to direct traffic will be posted around the precinct and within the Doug McDonell building.
Disabled access will also be via the Doug McDonell building. However, an escort through the construction site by the Site Manager will be required. Signage will be posted to direct disabled persons and will include the Site Manager's contact details to arrange an escort.
Construction works on the Charles Pearson Lecture Theatre are scheduled for completion by mid May. Staff and students will be notified accordingly.
Education Resource Centre (ERC) – Change of Entry Point
The development of the Eastern Precinct is continuing, and the next stage of the construction, the refurbishment of ERC Level 3, has commenced. Entry and exit access will be via the southern entrance on Level 1. Level 3 access will be closed. Signage will be posted to direct staff and students. Access throughout the building to Levels 1, 2, 4 and 5 will be as normal. Collections, services and facilities from Level 3 have been or will be relocated to other libraries or floors.
Property and Campus Services appreciate your understanding whilst the construction of this important project proceeds.
Click here for map showing access point to ERC after 05/02/08.
- For up to date information on ERC collections and facilities, see ERC Collection Relocation FAQs.
- The road running from Gate 8 to Monash Road has been reopened for pedestrian access, which is programmed to remain open for the duration of the project. However, the occasional closure may be required from time to time but you will be notified accordingly. Overhead hoarding is in place and signage will be posted to direct pedestrian traffic. Vehicles will not be able to use this road as a thoroughfare during this time.
- The southern Emergency Exit in the ERC will be maintained at all times.
How to access ERC materials during the relocation, and other frequently asked questions (FAQs)
Eastern Learning Hub
The completed Eastern Learning Hub, scheduled to open in 2008, will ensure that the ERC becomes a true multi-format library learning hub. Approximately 75% of the ERC will be devoted to discipline related collections (i.e. books, journals, maps, media), supported by digital resource access and IT rich, collaborative and individual student study environments.
The ELH - comprising the current ERC library, with the adjacent Frank Tate facility providing significant student, social and community spaces, and the Plaza Conference Centre being converted to the first Student Hub under the Melbourne Student Services Model - will provide a wide range of integrated one-stop-shop student services alongside rich scholarly collections, including high-use undergraduate material and material supporting research by students and staff.
The Eastern Learning Hub Resource Centre developments will:
- Provide access to four floors (in total) of discipline related collections.
- Provide a multi resource environment, offering a range of physical spaces to promote individual and collaborative learning approaches.
- Create an inviting, cohesive environment that encourages occupants to extend their time on campus, thereby providing a platform for developing 'learning communities' in a safe and secure setting.
- Provide a sense of place for students, supporting the student cohort experience.
- Provide 24/7 access to collaborative, social learning spaces supported by a flexible IT environment.
- Foster the development of a learning community within the precinct through the provision of high quality print and electronic scholarly information resources and information technology services.
- Re-conceptualise the student service delivery model to provide student-centred services that support the Melbourne Model undergraduate degrees.
- Ensure that the floor space on levels one and three is kept as flexible as possible to accommodate changing/emerging needs.
More information about the development of the Eastern Learning Hub is available.
The Library acknowledges and regrets that the redevelopment of the Education Resource Centre will be inconvenient to the students and staff who use the collections currently housed there. We acknowledge in particular that there will be some difficulties experienced by those using the B and AB collections during the construction of the ELH. However this is a necessary short term cost to bear so that much greater long term benefits can be achieved. We are doing everything possible to minimise the disruption to teaching, learning and research resulting from the relocation of the ERC collections during the construction of the ELH.
An additional significant benefit is the commitment that the University has made to provide funding of $250,000 to allow all materials in the B and AB collections to be fully catalogued and available through the online catalogue as a matter of priority. This will significantly increase access to the material and diminish the inconvenience caused by its relocation. Cataloguing the research collections has been a Library objective for many years.
The Library is well aware of the desire to maintain the existing capacity for collections on the main campus. However, demands upon space, as well as the continuing growth of the print collections, makes this a significant challenge for the University. Adequate space does not exist to locate all Library collections on campus. Indeed space is at such a premium that some of the ERC collections will need to be accessed from stores. Extensive consultation with academic staff and students has begun and will continue in order to determine the vital material which must remain on the Parkville campus.
The Library looks forward to working with the academic community to maintain Library spaces and collections which best meet their needs.
Further general comments and feedback can be emailed to the University Librarian, Dr Angela Bridgland.