21st century facility

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.