The University of Leicester’s state-of-the-art David Wilson Library. was officially opened by, Her Majesty the Queen in December 2008.The Queen, escorted by the University’s Chancellor Sir Peter Williams, was accompanied by the Duke of Edinburgh and the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Bob Burgess.
The £32 million David Wilson Library is the centrepiece of the University’s Development Plan and represents the biggest single investment in the University’s history. Completed in April 2008, it has won the 2008 RIBA East Midlands Award for Architecture and the 2008 Building of the Year Award at the Property and Construction awards, organised annually by ProCon Leicestershire.
This stunning library space, purpose-built for learning and research, is a development befitting the Times Higher Education’s University of the Year 2008/9. The 15,000 sq metre library includes:
• a range of study spaces for 1500 readers
• a million books supplemented by extensive digital databases and journals
• 350 PCs
• a 500 seat lecture theatre
• 3M SelfCheck System S3-Series book return Sortation Unit…
…all this, as well as bookshop and a cafe.
Commenting on the Library development, Professor Burgess said: "The new library is stunning – the light, the architectural design and the furniture are all excellent. Everyone I meet says how impressed they are with the library. It really does have a ‘wow factor'."
Librarian and Pro-Vice-Chancellor Christine Fyfe added: “Of all the University buildings, the new library best expresses our values and aspirations. It is placed both physically and spiritually at the heart of the campus. The new glass façade is an expression of this openness, visibility and vibrancy.”
Paul Woolvine, Sales and Marketing Manager for 3M’s Track & Trace Division, which supplied the University with the 3M SelfCheck System S3-Series added: “We are very proud of our range of SelfCheck Systems which can, as with the Leicester University installation, become an integral part of a fantastically designed/functioning academic or indeed public library.”
