New Whipple Library

The new library of the Department of History and Philosophy of Science came into service in October 2008. In the new scheme the old Heycock Theatre (a Victorian lecture theatre adjoining the Department) has been refurbished to form the main Whipple Library reading room. Collections and reading areas are now arranged in the Heycock over four mezzanine levels, utilising the entire height of the old lecture theatre. In its refurbished state this constitutes a very attractive space. Three quarters of the collection is now housed in here along with the library offices and reception area. The refurbished Heycock is linked (via a bridge) to the old library space, which has been reorganised. Half of the old library remains as a further library reading room (holding the remaining quarter of the collection), with the rest forming a new gallery for the Whipple Museum. In the new library space we are able to shelve nearly all our books on open access (excepting rare books) and allow the collection to grow. Most importantly, students have a greatly improved environment in which to work.

The photographs below reveal the progression of work from September 2007, when building work began, until its completion in Michaelmas 2008. From this one can see the process by which the old lecture theatre was arranged into mezzanine levels and linked to the old library.

09/08/07

05/10/07

01/01/08

01/02/08

13/02/08

23/02/08

18/04/08

07/05/08

09/05/08

17/06/08

04/11/08