An £11million extension to Lancaster University Library – providing 450 additional study spaces and reflecting a new vision – was officially opened by the Vice-Chancellor Professor Andy Schofield last Friday afternoon.

The new vision will put the library at the heart of the University community.

Speaking at the opening ceremony Professor Schofield said: “This library is at the heart of Lancaster's campus and it tells a story of the intellectual heart of what we do. It's a place where knowledge is brought together but also communicated.

“It's just a great and very inclusive feeling place and the fact that we've been able to do things digitally with 24/7 activity taking place only adds to the power of the library.

“It will also play a central part and continues to play a central part in the strategy that we're developing.

“This is not a university only for the closed circle of the university community, but for the wider community too.

“We invite everybody to come and benefit from this great facility that we've got here and through digital, as we're doing today, getting people from all over the country and all over the world to see all that we have on offer at Lancaster.

“So, the extension itself, is a new chapter. It's a physical space, but it's a digital space too and brings those things together so powerfully. It also speaks in terms of our values to the sort of collaborative and collegial way in which we work.”

Professor Schofield was joined for the official opening by Director of Library Services at Lancaster University Andrew Barker and Amy Merchant, the Vice-President (Welfare) of Lancaster University Students’ Union.

The new extension, over three floors, blends seamlessly with the existing building and includes new breakout spaces, quiet areas and relaxation zones, adding another dynamic to the Library.

Living walls of expertly selected, glossy, vibrant plants, intermittent trickling watering systems and an array of tastefully chosen, stylish furniture all add to the calm, relaxing environment.

The light and airy new-build also houses spacious research and digital laboratories complete with scanning facilities.

An impressively-equipped exhibition and events area comes complete with glass showcases, projectors, a full array of spotlights, presentation desk and partitions to create bigger or smaller spaces as needed.

The extension project also includes a fourth, lower-ground floor that will operate independently of the Library, for use by student societies and for teaching activity.

The overall building design was developed by architects Scott Brownrigg following consultation with staff and students in 2018 and 2019.

Construction of the extension, undertaken by Preston-based John Turner Construction Limited, followed in November 2019 with handover earlier this year.

Find out more about the Library and how to book study space on the Library website.

· The Library Team have been shortlisted in the 2021 Times Higher Education Awards for ‘outstanding library team’ with their entry ‘Living a New Vision Reimagining a library for the 21st Century: We Connect, We Innovate, We Include’. The winners will be announced on November 25.