Privileged Spaces: Academic Libraries in University Estates Strategy

Privileged Spaces draws on the knowledge and experience of library leaders, estates directors, space managers, and researchers to examine how the demands on library space change due to evolving university estates strategy. It highlights the impact this can have on space retention, service delivery and user satisfaction, demonstrating the importance of library, estates and facilities leaders working in partnership to deliver spaces in alignment with university planning.

As universities continually change their strategy and teaching spaces to meet market demands, library spaces are increasingly in scope for estates development plans in the same way as any university building. Drawing on years of professional experience, the authors provide guidance on fostering an effective working relationship with a range of university departments, making the case for investment in libraries, engaging stakeholders to support library development, and influencing university estates strategy. This book features case studies to illustrate the successes and challenges of delivering small to large library space projects. This is an ideal reference for library directors, staff, and planning professionals who want to ensure their library space meets the needs of its users and the wider university.

Regina Everitt is Assistant Chief Operating Officer (ACOO) & Director of Library, Archives and Learning Services at the University of East London. She began her professional career as a technical author/trainer working with computer companies that developed software for the manufacturing, pharmaceutical and financial sectors in the US and UK. After managing a small library at a university in West Africa as a volunteer with the United States Peace Corps, she transitioned into the HE sector developing and managing libraries, social learning spaces, and other learning resources. Concerned about the low representation of Global Ethnic Majority (GEM) staff members in leadership positions in academic libraries, she co-project managed SCONUL research to document GEM staff experiences in library and information sciences (LIS) and is working with the sector to implement the recommendations from the report to develop more diverse talent. She is a member of the SCONUL Board, the British Library Advisory Council, and a member of a CILIP trailblazer group that is developing a standard for a Level 6/7 apprenticeship. She co-edited Narrative Expansions: Interpreting Decolonisation in Academic Libraries which considers how academic libraries are navigating this contentious topic.

Neil Everitt is Director of Strategic Engagement at the Institute of Workplace and Facilities Management (IWFM). Before joining IWFM he developed an interest in property after completing a volunteer procurement project for a charity providing community-based services in London. Prior to that he fulfilled a number of sales & marketing, procurement and change management roles, in several countries, with a large multi-national mining organisation.