As we move through the term, we have a few important updates to share with you since our last Summer improvements recap. These renovations are designed to improve our shared spaces, making your learning experiences even better. We’ll keep you updated on any closures or changes to access as the work progresses.

Welcome Desk: You may have noticed some building work on the first floor of the Library. We're excited to announce that the work for combining the Welcome Point and Helpdesk into one central hub is nearly complete. This new space will streamline services, making it easier for you to get the support you need in one convenient location.

Draught lobby: With the cold nights drawing in, staying warm is more important than ever. A new draught lobby will be installed during Christmas vacation to reduce heat loss and save energy. During this time, the main entrance on the first floor will be temporarily closed, but a temporary entrance and exit will be provided. Details will follow closer to the time.

Library Lighting Project: As part of the University's Smart Energy initiative, we are still in the process of upgrading the Library’s lighting system to energy-efficient LED lights. This project will cut our energy use by about 70%, helping to create a more sustainable campus. These upgrades will save a massive 545,584 kWh per year—that’s the equivalent of driving around the world 56 times in an electric car! Not only will this reduce our environmental impact, but it will also improve the quality of lighting throughout the Library for a better study environment.

Accessible library: A new Assistive Technology area has now been set up on the floor 2 extension, featuring height-adjustable tables, private booths, and updated technology. The space is expected to open soon once the lighting project is completed. Accessible Study rooms in the Main Library have also been given a fresh look with new paint, furniture, and storage.

As a reminder, the Library offers a number of services and facilitiesLink opens in a new window to support students with disabilities or learning differences, including bookable accessible rooms for study.

Biomed Grid: Following some light refurbishments, the BioMed Grid is now open again with extended hours of 8:00 AM to midnight, 7 days a week.

Student hub for PGT students studying Science for Sustainable Futures: As part of the STEM connect project, an area within Learning Grid 1 in University house has now been made into a student hub primarily for PGT students on Science for Sustainable Futures courses. As a reminder, the remainder of Learning Grid 1 is still open as usual to all students, as is the Learning Grid 2 space on the ground floor.

The University will soon be implementing new IT systems to replace EPrints, which underpins the Warwick Research Archive Portal (WRAP) and Ideate, the University’s pre-award research grants & contracts management system.

See our pageLink opens in a new window to find out more and how to get involved.

The Library completed several building improvements over the summer period

Expanded Library-based Research Skills Training Programme

Following the Library’s inclusion in the ‘Warwick Transformation’ programme, additional resource has been focussed on research support to develop and expand our offer for researchers. For 2024/25, the Library has reviewed, refreshed and expanded its skills training offer for researchers. This new offer draws on the knowledge and skills of staff across the Library’s new Research and Academic Services section - which brings together expanded Academic Support, Open Research and Research Data teams into one section,- facilitating an improved offer for research active staff and students across the University and ensuring it meets the evolving needs of our academic and research community.

Launching in the 2024/25 academic session, we are offering sessions aimed at postgraduate research students and early career researchers on new topics such as open research, literature searching and research metrics as well as returning favourites such as reference management, publishing strategically and data management planning.

Details of the new sessions can be found on the Library Researcher Training webpage (https://warwick.ac.uk/services/library/research-support/researcher-training/), and sessions can be booked via Skills Forge (https://skillsforge.warwick.ac.uk/warwick/#common/main/welcome)