About The Sir Michael Cobham Library
The Sir Michael Cobham Library was awarded the prestigious Library Design Award in December 2007. Presented every five years by the Society of College, National and University Libraries (SCONUL) the " Library Design Oscar" rewards the best new or refurbished higher education library in national and university institutions.
The building opened its doors in January 2003 and is intended to meet the current and future needs of the University’s academic community. It was designed to allow Student and Academic Services to provide a broad integrated spectrum of services including Educational Development, Learning Support, Additional Learning Support, Library and Language Centre. It brings together in a coherent way, for both students and staff, services which were previously spread across the campus.
In June 2009 the Library service was the winner of the Times Higher Education Leadership and Management Award for ?Outstanding Library Team'.
The building occupies a landmark position on the University's Talbot Campus, set within a landscaped courtyard with an informal seating area adjacent to a café. Floodlit at night, with a fibre optic sculpture at the pinnacle of the building. At 32 metres high, it is a striking addition to the landscape. The building has an energy-saving design with a natural ventilation system and angled windows to minimise solar gain, and incorporates many features for those with special needs.
In September 2008 the courtyard was enhanced by a stainless steel and black granite sculpture entitled “Wind stone earth sky” by Koichi Ishino, a gift from the Fine Family Foundation and is part of the University’s Permanent Art Collection.
The building was opened by the Duke of Kent in January 2003. In July 2007 it was renamed in memory of Sir Michael Cobham, a significant contributor to funding the project, who died in April 2006. A plaque honouring Sir Michael was unveiled by his widow, Lady Cobham. Sir Michael, recipient of an Honorary Doctorate from BU, was a former Chairman and Life President of Cobham plc, the aerospace company founded in Wimborne by his father, Sir Alan Cobham.
Today, the University Library provides impressive facilities on both of its campuses.
View photos of the building in construction.
View the Library and Learning Centre upon completion
View the Library and Learning Centre in 2006
View the Library and Learning Centre in 2007
View The Sir Michael Cobham Library in 2007
View The Sir Michael Cobham Library in 2008
Listen to the Podcast about service enhancements in 2008 - Time 36:54 minutes
Watch a clip of our ground floor learning space in use
Facts and figures
The Sir Michael Cobham Library accommodates:
- a floor area of 5,210 square metres. Comprising phase I: Library tower 2,833 square metres; phase II: two-storey refurbishment area 2,377 square metres
- 4.5 kilometres of shelving
- 194,000 books; 750 print journal titles; 9000 multi-media items; 73,300 e-books, 46,000 e-journals and 30,000 reports
- 1010 study spaces comprising 587 seats in phase I and 423 in phase II
- a Special Collections Room
- 4 study rooms & 6 techno booths
- refreshments and social seating
- wireless networking covering the building and ‘blue’ network points providing flexible access for students and staff to electronic resources from their personal laptops
- over 255 computers installed, equipped with low-energy flat screen displays
- self service machines providing for over 60% of transactions
- information and advice service points
Project Team
- Architects - Saunders Architects (2001-2003); Architectural designers Nightingale Associates (2008)
- Main contractor - Raymond Brown (2001-2003); Morgan Ashurst (2008)
- Book move - Edes
- Shelving - Ecospace
- Signage - Hants & Dorset Signs
- Study chairs - Godfrey Syrett & Broadstock
- Study desks – Demco, Godfrey Syrett & Broadstock
Key contacts for further information about the services delivered from The Sir Michael Cobham Library
- Head of Academic Development Services - David Ball
- Library and Learning Support Manager - Jill Beard
The following web pages give more details of some of our services:
Features of The Sir Michael Cobham Library
Ground Floor:
- Learning Support Service
- Refreshment vending, social learning spaces, techno booths and study places
- Self-service loans and returns machines and a fines payment machine
- Newspaper, journal & microfilm collections
- Presentation room with PCs used both for skills teaching and group study
- Library loans/returns/general information
- Open access computers including adjustable height desks for wheelchair users
- Wireless technology for laptop users
- Photocopiers and printers
- IT Services service desk
First Floor:
- Academic Service Executive & Administration
- Postgraduate study area
- Language Centre
- Library Subject Advice Service, which includes a service point, the subject team base, and computer based information available through 16 bookable PCs
- Reference collections
- Resources from 000-339 (computing, psychology, sociology etc)
- Open access computers
- Study places and social learning spaces and 2 group study rooms
- Wireless technology for lap top users
- Photocopier and printers
- Video/DVD playback facilities
Second Floor:
- Law reference collection
- Resources from 340 - 399 (law, public administration, education and tourism)
- A silent study floor with 2 group study rooms
- Wireless technology for laptop users
- Photocopiers and printer
- Video/DVD playback facilities
- Business and Project Development Manager's Office
Third floor:
- Resources from 400 to 699 (Language, science & technology, and all aspects of business and management)
- A silent study floor with one group study room
- Wireless technology for laptop users
- Photocopier and printer
- Video/DVD playback facilities
- Library and Learning Support Manager's office
Fourth or top floor:
- Special Collections room providing a showcase for the University's growing research collections. Particular strengths are in digital media and conservation sciences, including collections of the Radio Times; TVTimes and The Listener
- Resources from 700 - 999 (arts and humanities)
- A silent study floor
- Wireless technology for laptop users
- Photocopiers and printer
- A Video/DVD playback facilities
For further detail please don't hesitate to visit the contact us page