Exeter College Oxford Major Donor Brochure

“Exeter College Library astonished me, a callow undergraduate in 1965, by allowing me to borrow its copy of the original Yellow Book, Beardsley and all. I thought what a marvellous place it was, to be so generous with its treasure.”

Philip Pullman (1965, English)

IntroductionYour Library is one of the most beautiful and atmospheric in Oxford, it has been the academic cradle for some of the great thinkers and writers of the last 165 years. Now it’s your turn to write the next chapter and help to restore this iconic building for the generations of Exeter students yet to come.

The Library at Exeter College was designed and built by the celebrated Victorian architect Sir George Gilbert Scott in 1856-7; it is a building of considerable architectural importance and one of the College’s most distinctive landmarks. The Library is central to the student experience at Exeter College, and the building and its collections are extensively used 24 hours a day.

Heavy usage and the ravages of time, however, have had

their impact. There has been very little significant updating of the Library since it was built, other than the installation of steel beams in the ceiling and the division of the Annexe into two floors, and now it is in need of significant restoration.

I hope you will find the plans and ambitions laid out here interesting and inspiring, and that you will join your College community to help make them a reality.

“Last year 727 individual readers used or requested books from Exeter College Library including undergraduates, graduates and staff (academic and not). Between them they borrowed 14,193 books covering almost every subject imaginable. There is no doubt that the Library is the academic heart of the College.”

JoannaLibrarianBowring,

The Library Now

The current state of the Library

After more than 160 years the Library urgently needs improvement not only to maintain the beautiful building designed by Gilbert Scott but also to provide current and future students with a study and learning space that is fit for the 21st century.

There are a number of issues with the building that need addressing. For example, the external stone work is disintegrating and the roof leaks, the heating is inadequate and the wiring is too frail to allow students to use the laptops on which they make notes, write essays and access information from outside the Library. Furthermore, the

ventilation is poor and the temperature control is nonexistent, which makes the Library uncomfortable during anything but the most clement weather – and that is rare in Oxford! Alongside these technical and structural issues the workspace for readers and librarians alike has been uncomfortable and cramped for some time.

ThetheVisionFuture

Vision for the Next Chapter

The core of the College’s ambition for the Library is to provide a study space fit for 21st century students and beyond while still maintaining the building’s inspiring atmosphere and beauty, preserving and protecting the historic fabric of the Library inside and out.

When the special collections were moved to Cohen Quad, in 2017, the College was presented with an opportunity to re-imagine the Library’s internal space and modernise it in a way that is sympathetic to the original design.

In May 2019 Exeter appointed Nex, a London-based architects firm to oversee the re-design of the Library and the resulting plans are quite stunning. We hope that our alumni and friends share our excitement as work progresses to transform the space.

“It

work with Exeter College on the renewal of one of their most distinctive landmarks. The Library is a key part of George Gilbert Scott’s legacy, containing impressive reading rooms and intricately detailed joinery. Our goal has been to sensitively restore the Library to reveal its original mastery, while improving accessibility and increasing reading spaces for the next generation of Exeter students and fellows.”

has been a unique privilege to

AlanDirector,DempseyNex

Transformation The

Transformation

The exterior of the Library, with new entrance.

The restored ground floor.

A new work and study space in the area of the old entrance.

The Mezzanine level in the Annexe.

The restored upper floor.

Exterior from the Rector’s Garden, including the discreet lift shaft.

The transformed lower Annexe.

Benefits the Project

Benefits of Project

More space

There will be 30% more reader spaces in the newly restored Library, enabling more Exeter students to make use of this wonderful facility. The Library is often full, especially during exam periods. The extra reader space will reduce some of the associated stress for students and provide an environment that is much more conducive to thinking and learning.

One of the most significant changes to the Library will be the Annexe. The Annexe in its current shape was the result of a somewhat brutal remodelling in the 1950s, when the false floor was inserted to divide the space into two separate rooms, with the lower room housing the archives and special collections. During the restoration, the 1950s floor will be removed to reveal the obscured windows, which will bathe the new space in natural light. In its place, a halfwidth mezzanine will be inserted, which will allow for the increase in workspaces for students. New shelving along the walls in the lower half of the Annexe means that the modern bookcases in the main body of the Library, which currently make the space look and feel cluttered, can be removed.

One of the other major changes enabled by the restoration will be the positioning of a new entrance to the Library at the other end of the building, through what is currently a garden store. Moving the entrance allows for the creation of a bright and spacious lobby area with lockers for student belongings, an accessible toilet (which the Library has never had) and access to a new lift.

The new space will be used to create a dedicated work space for the College’s librarians. The current entrance to the Library will be transformed into a meeting space, enabling students and staff to work collaboratively within the Library. The original door will remain in use so that the meeting area can be accessed separately from the main Library entrance.

More accessible

Making the Library fully accessible to everyone for the first time is one of the most important aspects of the restoration project. The College is committed to improving diversity and inclusion – there should be no barrier, physical or otherwise, to deter excellent people from learning and working at Exeter.

bookcases) will be revealed to provide an additional stepfree emergency exit. There will also be a fully accessible toilet at ground level near the new entrance meaning that students no longer have to leave the Library to use the facilities elsewhere on site.

In order to make every area of the Library accessible, part of the project will involve the installation of a lift to all floors. The lift will be located next to the spiral staircase and will provide access to both the Annexe mezzanine level and the upper floor of the main wing. The lift shaft will stand out discreetly next to the exterior turret and will only be visible from the Rector’s Garden. A door at the far end of the Annexe (which is currently blocked by

Although making the Library fully accessible has presented the biggest architectural challenge, it has been at the heart of every conversation since planning began. This is testament to the strength of Exeter’s commitment to being an inclusive environment for everyone who joins the College community. In fact, the alterations to the Library are just the first elements in a sitewide plan to ensure the whole College is open and accessible to all.

“

Currently I can’t use the Library because the building isn’t easily accessible, and I have a health condition that can cause extreme fatigue, so getting there and back is difficult for me.

The plans to make the Library fully accessible would make a big difference to my experience as a student at Exeter, especially during those times when I use a wheelchair. At the moment it’s too much of a faff, but once a lift is installed I look forward to having the opportunity to work in there.”

Amber Waite (2020, Biological Sciences)

More environmentally sustainable

Sustainability, and the Library’s impact on the environment around it, is a core consideration of the restoration project.

The plans include a number of non-intrusive measures that will result in a substantial reduction in the College’s carbon footprint and help to make the space a more comfortable and pleasant working environment for staff and students alike.

For example, the current lighting will be replaced with LED bulbs and operate on a motion detector system, which will be much kinder on the eyes of those working in the Library and far more energy efficient.

The heating system will also be updated so that

it is fully controllable and the new windows in the Annexe roof will open and shut automatically, allowing the space to be ventilated naturally without the need for air conditioning in the summer. Further, a special invisible film will be applied to all the windows to reduce solar heat and glare, which, along with new blinds, will help control the temperature of the building and prevent damage to the books. This will be a significant change from the current heating and ventilation systems in the Library, which are either on full or off.

21st century facility

Exeter students deserve a Library fit for the 21st century. A lot has changed in the 160 or so years since the Library was built, and the restoration will incorporate technical innovation into the elevation of Gilbert Scott’s original designs.

In order to update the electrical system, the Library will be completely rewired. However, to preserve the aesthetic of Gilbert Scott’s design, the cables and plug sockets will be positioned as discreetly as possible. This will be a significant improvement on the current disarray of cables and extension leads that snake across every reader space.

There will also be a digital system to assist with the management of reader spaces in the Library during times of peak demand. This will reduce the occurrence

of desk-hogging and allow Library staff to control numbers, for example to ensure social distancing if necessary. The intention is that the user will be able to log in remotely via an app to see space availability and then book a desk before arriving at the Library. Sensors will be connected to the desk reader lights so that when a student vacates their seat for longer than 10 minutes the light switches on to indicate that the seat is available.

These simple changes will make a significant impact on the Library’s energy usage and, therefore, its carbon footprint.

Heritage preserved

The Library at Exeter College was built by a giant of the Gothic Revival – Gilbert Scott – and has since been the home of giants in literature, politics, theatre, economics, philosophy, and more. The aim of the restoration is to restore the Library to its former glory, while sensitively upgrading its facilities to meet the needs of current students.

Respecting the architectural integrity and ambience of the Library is essential because current students have strongly expressed just how important these qualities are to them.

The exterior stonework will be cleaned and the grotesques will be re-carved where needed. Inside the Library, paint will be removed from stonework and stripped from the ceiling of the ground floor to reveal the original timber beams. The 60 original

bookcases, which form an integral part of Gilbert Scott’s Victorian Gothic design, will be removed and restored offsite by the University’s conservation department before being returned to the Library. The restoration plans also incorporate builtin display cases to exhibit some of the College’s most treasured books and objects, which will provide current and future students with the opportunity to engage with them easily within their own working environment.

“Aside from being the key facility for Exeter students now, this project will have significant impact on future generations. By ensuring that Exeter has an excellent, 21st century library in which students can study and work, we are also encouraging prospective students to apply. This is particularly true of those students who are welcomed to the College as part of the Access and Outreach programme – if we want them to raise their aspirations and apply to a worldleading institution then it is crucial that they see that we have facilities and support to rival, and surpass, those in any other college or university.”

Stephanie Hale, Access and Outreach Officer

Role

Why support this project?

Whether or not you spent much time in Exeter’s Library, I think most of us would agree that it is a very special building, not only worthy of restoration in itself but, importantly, to extend its use and impact by making it properly fit for the needs of students in the 21st century.

There is no doubt that the current generation of Exeter students use the Library far more than my generation did – despite the shift to digital media. It’s essential for the College to be able to offer students the environment and resources they need to produce their best work and to attract the most talented young people. This is particularly true of those students that are welcomed to the College as part of the Access and Outreach programme.

This is why, in 2019, I gave a cornerstone gift to kick-start and fund this project. Much

work has now been done on the scope and design of the restored Library, which will provide a significantly enhanced centre for study, learning and inspiration for Exeter students. I hope many of you will join me in supporting the restoration of the Library. It may seem like just changing one building, but as the heart of our College, it will impact current and future generations of Exonians for decades to come.

William Jackson (1983, Geography)

Project funding

The total anticipated project cost is £10.6 million. Alumni and friends have already helped to write the next chapter of the Library’s story by making gifts totalling £5 million, and the College has pledged £3 million, in recognition of the importance of the project.

The goal now is to provide Exeter’s alumni and friends with a unique opportunity to make their mark on one of the College’s most loved buildings by making a gift to help raise the remaining £2.6 million to complete the project.

Your gift will not only contribute to the cost of delivering an outstanding space for our students, but will enable us to leverage support from others, including charitable trusts and foundations.

Costs

Construction cost

Potential construction overrun / risks

Inflation

Total construction cost

£5.6m £0.8m £0.3m £6.7m

Project cost excluding VAT £2.1m £8.8m

Project, design and other development costs

VAT Project cost including VAT £1.8m £10.6m

Recognising your gift

The College would be delighted to recognise significant gifts to the Library restoration within the building, and there are a number of ways that can be arranged – large and small, traditional and creative – to reflect your relationship with this special space.

I

f you are interested in funding the restoration of a whole area of the Library – for example, the newly designed Annexe or the iconic upper wing – then the Rector and Director of Development would be delighted to discuss those opportunities with you.

All donors to the project, regardless of the amount they choose to give, will be recognised within the Library once the restoration is complete, as a way of celebrating their generous support of Exeter College.

How to make your gift

UKIf you are a UK taxpayer and you make the gift from your personal income, it is possible to Gift Aid your donation which generates tax benefits for you the donor. An example is laid out below:

1 A donor who pays tax at 40% and makes a gift of £20,000. The charity (Exeter College) receives £25,000 and the donor can claim higher-rate tax relief of £5,000 meaning the donation only costs the donor £15,000.

2

A donor who pays tax at 40% and wants to make a gift of £600,000 can give £480,000. The College, as a registered charity, can claim Gift Aid from the government of £120,000 to make up the difference. As a higher- rate taxpayer the donor can claim £120,000 back from HMRC via their self-assessment form. So the gift only costs £360,000.

USA

It is possible to make a tax effective gift in USD via Americans for Oxford, Inc. This is the University’s primary charitable organisation in North America, and has been determined by the United States Internal Revenue Service to be a tax-exempt public charity with 501(c)(3) status. In compliance with IRS regulations, the Board of Directors of AFO maintains complete discretion over allocation of the gifts it receives. Gifts to AFO qualify for an income tax deduction to the full extent allowed by law. If you would like to discuss making your gift via AFO then please do contact the Development Office at Exeter College.

Fletcher Fellow Librarian at Exeter College

“

Libraries are spaces of discovery, contemplation and understanding. The physical space they offer is never more important than now in our digitally dispersed world. The Library project commits to this importance and the resulting space will I hope benefit generations of students.”

Christopher

1700 to now:

chapters already written

JRR Tolkien (1911, Classics and English)

Tolkien came up in 1911 and it was the Exeter College Library that witnessed, and nurtured, his transformation from undergraduate to creator of Middle-earth.

(1634-1700)

Elizabeth Shiers left a bequest to Exeter College to provide funding for the Library and to endow two scholarships. Today, her fund enables the Librarian with the means to purchase many additional texts for students. One of the first female benefactors to the College, her portrait can be found in the Library.

If he came back today, he would probably say that the Library hasn’t changed!

Alan Bennett (1954, Modern History)

Actor, author, playwright and screenwriter, Alan Bennett came up to study History in 1954. During his time at Exeter he also performed with the Oxford Revue. Following some years teaching and researching after graduation, he went on to focus on his literary and artistic pursuits.

Elizabeth Shiers

Kufuor (1961, PPE)

In 1961 John Kufuor came to Exeter College to study PPE. Thereafter he enjoyed a very successful career in law. In 2001 he was elected as President of Ghana. In celebration of his contribution to Ghanaian law and culture, Exeter is proud to award a postgraduate scholarship in his name.

Reeta Chakrabarti (1984, English and French)

Reeta Chakrabarti is a journalist, newsreader and correspondent for BBC News. Of Exeter she says, “I loved my time there. There weren’t –then – many people from my background at university. But that didn’t stop my experience from being overwhelmingly good,” which is good because she’s an Honorary Fellow as of 2019!

Louie Stowell (1997, English)

Louie Stowell studied English at Exeter College, where she loved Old English and writing about comics. She went on to work in PR, advertising and publishing, before becoming a full-time children’s writer.

Will you help to write the next chapter?

John

For further information, please contact:

Yvonne Rainey Director of Development

Exeter College Oxford OX1 3DP

T: +44 (0) 1865 279662 M: 07789 715745

yvonne.rainey@exeter.ox.ac.uk

Professor Sir Rick Trainor Rector

Exeter College Oxford OX1 3DP

T: +44 (0) 1865 279647 richard.trainor@exeter.ox.ac.uk