More than 250 people will form a ‘human book chain’ at Edge Hill University to mark the completion of its brand new £27m Catalyst building on Wednesday 13 June.
This symbolic event will see staff, students and local schoolchildren pass books from person to person from the old library to the new facility, in a chain which snakes along Edge Hill’s Hub Boulevard.
Musicians and performers will also be on hand to celebrate the opening of this innovative building at the heart of Edge Hill’s campus, which will house the library, careers and student services functions in its contemporary 8,000-square metre space.
Catalyst will be an inspiring 24/7 destination for the Edge Hill community with welcoming, knowledgeable staff on hand to support student life, research, learning and career development.
This ‘destination’ building will provide a 50 per cent increase in study spaces, with 30 bookable rooms plus two training rooms. Students will get improved access to services with 24-hour opening.
Around 230,000 books will sit on 5,000 shelves and the building’s top floor will be a dedicated space for study, silent working and research, with a traditional reading-room feel.
Catalyst will also have a landscaped roof terrace taking in views across the 160-acre campus and beyond. The ground floor will feature a coffee shop and an exhibition space which will host events and double as a relaxation area.
A dedicated space will also offer workstations equipped with specialist software currently only accessible within individual faculty buildings. The building will feature interactive, touch-screen technology and many of its services will be bookable online.