Welcome to the Newly Refurbished Brotherton Research Centre

Claire Morton, Research Centre Operations Manager writes:

Thanks to a generous bequest from the John Victor Bedford Will Trust the University of Leeds Special Collections have been able to refresh the Brotherton Research Centre and create a new teaching space, the John Bedford Room.

Prior to the refurbishment and building project commencing we undertook surveys of our researchers to understand how we could improve their experience. We also ran focus groups, spoke to academics teaching in our space and to students about what they needed from us. This pre-work identified some key requirements:

• More comfortable chairs
• Better lighting
• Flexible space that could be adapted depending on user needs
• Wi-fi & power
• Less intimidating entrance
• Easier to find

The building work took place from June 2021 to February 2022, and we must acknowledge the patience shown by researchers and academics as we found temporary solutions to accommodate them whilst the work was underway. Now we have a fantastic and inviting new space which, despite only being open a few months, is already getting excellent feedback from researchers and staff.

The entrance has been opened up to be more inviting, with better lighting, signage and space to relax or study.

The John Bedford Room is a completely new space created specifically with teaching and events in mind. It includes a ceiling visualiser, ceiling mics, tracking camera and speakers to enable hybrid teaching or events via Teams or Zoom. The space can be divided in two for smaller sessions and the furniture can be configured to suit any requirement.

A teaching session in the John Bedford Room. Image credit Leeds University Library.

The Brotherton Research Centre has been refurbished to be more welcoming and accessible, removing barriers that restricted ease of access. The space has been divided into group study and silent study areas. The furniture is configurable to suit the needs of the researchers, students and the items they are consulting. One visiting researcher was delighted that we were able to combine multiple tables in order to allow them to consult a Yorkshire Archaeological and Historical Society map that is approximately 3 metres deep and almost as wide.

Providing an increased amount of group study space is making it easier for researchers to work collaboratively and also makes first time researchers, such as undergraduate students, feel more comfortable by allowing them to work with peers.

The group study area in the Research Centre. Image credit Leeds University Library.

Within the silent study space, improved sound proofing ensures a peaceful environment in which to consult material. Power sockets for every workspace, a larger work surface on which to consult material, and improved lighting ensures a more conducive research atmosphere.

The Research Centre silent study space. Image credit Leeds University Library

We are hosting workshops and research groups in the new spaces and are speaking with academics about how they can use the space for teaching. Staff are enjoying holding meetings in both the group area and John Bedford Room. One of the most noticeable differences is that students in the Brotherton library are finding their way to the comfortable seating in the corridor, and are continuing into the Brotherton Research Centre to learn more about what we offer.

This outcome was exactly what we hoped for when we started this journey and we hope our researchers are just as happy.