The Library’s Research Help area featuring 32 student workstations was officially opened on Thursday 27 February. The provision of this new facility is a response to feedback in last year’s Client Survey showing a clear demand from students and staff for more computers and less queuing time. A research support help desk provides assistance close to users in the new area and will focus on in depth assistance with literature searches and database usage.

This new area is one response to the changed ways students are working and their expectations of library buildings and resources. Predictions that online resources would mean the inevitable demise of libraries have not eventuated – students need more space to work with a combination of resources and to work with others – the Library had over a million visits last year. For the foreseeable future the library will be a hybrid – in which the potential of electronic information is being embraced as well as convenience of access - but recognising that the need for print material has not diminished especially for texts and references.