Back Back

Library refurb books crucial investment for student facilities

14/08/2024

The University of Wolverhampton has invested £1.6 million in refurbishing its library facilities at its City Campus in Wolverhampton. 

Work has started to completely refurbish the ground and third floor of the Harrison Library, which includes creating a brand new, accessible Student Life Centre to house frontline help and support for students including giving them direct access to mental health and wellbeing, disability and inclusion, financial support, safeguarding, skills for learning and support to study. 

After taking on board student feedback about how the facilities can be improved there will be improved independent and group study areas on the ground floor with new furniture and zoning, a fully refreshed silent study area on the third floor, and improvements to the IT Lab. There will be more plug sockets, better signage, more screens and planting to create calm, relaxing and private spaces. 

A group of people in hard hats and hi viz standing in front of a library room which is being refurbished

A new Skills for Learning Zone will complement additional meeting rooms enabling the academic skills support team to work alongside other academic support teams. 

The work is being carried out by Overbury who are leading on the project throughout the summer months, ensuring that the new, improved library will be ready when students return to campus in late September. 

Jo-Anne Watts, University Librarian, said: “We get really good feedback about the resources and services we provide but we know that some of the space needed to be upgraded. We're really pleased that the University has invested several million pounds on refurbishing and improving the facilities. We've done a lot of feedback and work with students to capture what they need from their library space.” 

Clare Dickens, Associate Director – Student Life, said: “In the new library space we are bringing a lot of our key student services including mental health and wellbeing, accessibility, disability and inclusion, safeguarding and finances together. 

“These services have always been available, but to access them students usually do this digitally and this project is going to bring those services front and centre. Students can walk in and get to know who they are, find out what they offer, and so having that physical presence will be really positive.” 

The work is expected to be completed by mid-September in time for the new academic semester starting. 

The Clearing hotline number is 01902 323 232 for anyone looking for courses starting in September and to find out more about our Open Days, visit our website.  

Picture caption from left to right: Adrian Jones, Senior Project Manager (Estates and Facilites at the University), Jo-Anne Watts, University Librarian, Yetunde Adedipe, VP Academic (Wolves Student’s Union), Oluwafunbi Babatunde, VP Community and Welfare (Wolves Student’s Union), Dr Clare Dickens, Associate Director – Student Life (University) and Peter Kempster, Project Manager (Overbury). 

ENDS 

For more information please contact the Corporate Communications Team.

Share this release

Related Stories