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REPORT

Report of the Council on the construction of a Library at Clarkson Road for the Physical Sciences, Technology, and Mathematics

The COUNCIL beg leave to report to the University as follows:

1. In their Report of 12 March 1997 (Reporter, 1996-97, p. 545) the General Board announced proposals for the establishment of a Physical Sciences and Technology Library at Clarkson Road. These proposals were approved by Grace 3 of 11 June 1997; the new library, which is to be a Dependent Library (i.e. administratively part of the University Library, under the supervision of the Library Syndicate on the same basis as the Scientific Periodicals Library, the Medical Library, and the Squire Law Library) will accommodate the Departmental libraries of the Faculty of Mathematics, together with parts of the University Library's scientific holdings and those of the Scientific Periodicals Library and the library of the Isaac Newton Institute for Mathematical Sciences. Future publications in the relevant subjects will be located in the new library. It has since been agreed that the description of the library should now include the word 'Mathematics' to reflect its content.

2. The General Board's Report was concerned with the principles underlying the establishment of the new library; it was indicated that the detailed design of the library building would be the subject of a Report by the Council when the necessary funds had been identified. The Council reported to the University in May 1997, proposing a general scheme for the development of the Clarkson Road site (Reporter, 1996-97, p. 703), and again in February 1998 (ibid., 1997-98, p. 404), when detailed proposals were put forward for accommodation for the Faculty of Mathematics, to be known as the Centre for Mathematical Sciences. These proposals were approved by the University, and Phase I of the scheme for Mathematics is now under construction; this comprises three out of the eight proposed pavilions together with the central core, which will include a catering facility.

3. In the May 1997 version of the proposals, the building for the new library was shown as adjacent to the Isaac Newton Institute, but in the revised scheme as proposed in February 1998, following discussions with the planning authorities, the library was repositioned in the north-east corner of the site and a gatehouse was added in the location previously proposed for the library. Planning permission was granted for this arrangement. Since then, the University Librarian and representatives of the Departmental libraries concerned have worked closely with the Architects, Edward Cullinan, to refine and develop the design in detail, and have confirmed that the proposals meet the users' requirements. The accommodation comprises some 3,320 square metres of space, providing 297 reader spaces, 7,000 linear metres of bookshelving, 7,000 volumes of reference material, and 2,000 current periodicals. There is scope for fifteen years' growth in holdings at the present rate of expansion, but the effect of a gradual switch from paper to electronic publishing is likely to result in a much longer period than this before the building is full.

4. The estimated cost of the building is currently £8.2m, excluding infrastructure costs, which will be met from the Chest (see paragraph 9 of the Council's Report of May 1997). This estimate includes a pessimistic allowance for inflation, and it is possible that the actual cost will be lower. In addition, the library's share of the central core is approximately £740,000.

5. The University has been fortunate to receive a generous benefaction of £7.5m which Mr Gordon Moore, Chairman Emeritus of Intel, and Mrs Betty Moore have undertaken to give to the Cambridge University Development Office in the United States (CUDOUS); the Board of CUDOUS have undertaken to make an equivalent grant to the University to fund the construction of the new library. In recognition of this gift it is proposed that the library should be named the Betty and Gordon Moore Library. The greater part of the benefaction has already been received, and interest is accruing. It is expected that the interest will meet the difference between the amount of the benefaction and the estimated cost of the building. Fund-raising is continuing towards the cost of the central core, and it is expected that the full cost of this will be raised; the library's share has been underwritten to date by the Chest.

6. The Isaac Newton Institute has also received a generous grant of up to £1m from the Dill Faulkes Education Trust; it is hoped to apply this to the construction of the gatehouse, which is to be used for research purposes. The General Board have agreed to allocate this accommodation to the Institute, and the design is being further developed; it is proposed that the building should be named the Faulkes Gatehouse. It is desirable that the gatehouse, which is adjacent to the library, should be constructed under the same contract as the latter, so as to benefit from economies of scale.

7. The annual running costs of the new library are estimated at £205,000; some compensating savings will arise when the existing libraries of the two Mathematics Departments vacate their present buildings, on the Old Press Site and in Mill Lane. The running costs of the gatehouse are estimated at £14,800 a year. The Council will take these costs into account when recommending allocations to the University Education Fund from the Chest.

8. The Council recommend:

I. That approval be given for the construction of a library for the Physical Sciences, Technology, and Mathematics, together with a gatehouse, at Clarkson Road, as proposed in this Report.

II. That the library be named the Betty and Gordon Moore Library, and that the gatehouse be named the Faulkes Gatehouse, in recognition of the respective benefactions.

III. That the Treasurer be authorized to accept a tender for the works in due course within the funds available.

25 January 1999

ALEC N. BROERS, Vice-Chancellor BRIAN F. G. JOHNSON M. D. MACLEOD
TONY BADGER DONALD LAMING ONORA O'NEILL
G. R. EVANS MELISSA LANE JEREMY SANDERS
A. L. R. FINDLAY JOHN A. LEAKE M. SCHOFIELD
DAVID HARRISON HOLLY LINKLATER DAVID M. THOMPSON
B. A. HEPPLE A. M. LONSDALE R. E. THORNTON

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Cambridge University Reporter, 27 January 1999
Copyright © 1999 The Chancellor, Masters and Scholars of the University of Cambridge.