Martyrs: trial of extended opening and PGT access
On a trial basis from Monday the 16th of February until the end of semester, the Research Reading Room will stay open until midnight 7 days a week. We will also be allowing all Masters Students trial evening and weekend access only to Martyrs (again starting Monday the 16th of February until the end of semester), from 5pm until midnight Monday-Friday and all day at weekends (10am-midnight). We have taken user suggestions and feedback on board and are happy to be able to offer both this extension to the opening times and access to Masters Students.
We recognise that the Research Reading Room has only 40 seats, and that this space alone does not represent a solution to the current pressure on study space for Taught Postgraduates. We have also considered the impact this trial may have on current users of this space and have selected the times of access carefully. Since its opening in the Autumn of 2013, occupancy figures for the Research Reading Room generally drop after 5pm during the week and stay low at weekends.
We hope that together with the newly opened study area in the Gateway building, which provides 88 study spaces (including 24 fixed PCs), access to Martyrs Kirk Research Reading Room will present Taught Postgraduate students with more space options and that the extended opening times will offer current users more flexibility.
As we are trialling both of these conditions, your feedback is essential to shaping how we move forward. We will be continually monitoring the occupancy numbers at Martyrs Kirk, and any effects the trial is having on the facility and study experience of its users.
If you have any questions regarding these trials, or would like to provide feedback, please email [email protected].
Photo of Martyrs Kirk Research Reading Room by Andrew Lee.