The Senate Committee on Academic Planning discussed the 

allocation of Library space at its meetings of December 10th 

and December 17th, 1975. Discussion within the Committee 

centered around the following concerns: 

(1)

The needs of the Library for space for the collections. 

(2)

Reading space requirements for faculty and students. 

(3)

Surge space to meet departmental growth needs in the 

immediate and near future. 

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In

discussion, there was recognition of and agreement on 

the following: 

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(1)

The

.

growth'of current and emergent'academic programs 

require additional faculty. 

(2)

There 

is

no current space. to provide' for additional                             

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faculty offices except in 'the addition to 'the L'ibrar. 

(3)

The Faculty of gducation desperately needs office 

space to relieve their overcrowded conditions as doe.. 

the Department of Kinesiology. 

(4)

The decision to add both floors of the Library at 

one time stemmed from rising building costs co-a- ' )led 

the j rssin 

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need for more space for..aca'deiic 

departments. ? 

In making the commitment to add both 

floors of the Library at one time, it had been agreed 

that some academic departments should be moved onto 

the seventh floor of the Library until additional 

classroom and office space is made available by the 

completion of other buildings in the late 1970's 

and early 19801s. 

(5)

This spring 35,000 gross square feet on the sixth 

floor-of the Library will become 'available for 

Library use which will provide additional reading 

space for faculty and students. 

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During the next 

few years it is anticipated that the north concourse' 

will be completed' at the same time as the construction 

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of the'Education and Archaeology building, providing 

workspace for 

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students. ? 

A second University Centre, 

Building is projected which will also provide additional 

work space for students. 

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Reading,'recreatiOfl, and 

study areas will also become available with the re- 

development of the west concourse. 

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with the librarian and deputy 

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librarian indicated that the Library had no 

need for additional space, other than the sixth 

floor which it will move into in the spring of 

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1976, until 1983 or 1984. By that time the two 

major academic projects will be completed, to the 

best of our knowledge, as well, as a planned 

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classroom/office building which will provide 

the space necessary to relocate those departments 

that are proposed to move to the seventh floor 

of the Library in 1976. 

(7)

Because of the transfer of existing staff to the 

new office of Analytical Studies, space for this 

unit must be provided in close proximity to the 

offices of the President and Academic Vice-President. 

Space for this unit is not available in the present 

administration building. 

(8)

The office of the Fire Marshal has become a major 

one in Burnaby and when modifications of a building 

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take place, the Fire Marshal looks at the entire 

building and suggests modifications. This is a. 

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'major factor to consider in building costs and 

also adds a time element to proposed.revisions.'.' 

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For this reason, it is important to ..decide on the 

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allocation of space for the Library as soon as 

possible in order to complete a review by the 

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Fire Marshal',s office early next year. 

The proposed disposition of space on the seventh floor 

of the Library is set out in the memorandum from Dr. B. G. 

Wilson, Vice-President, Academic to the Senate Committee on 

Academic Planning, dated 10 December 1975(attached). These 

proposals generated two additional concerns. The first of 

these was whether the second floor of the Library would be 

more appropriate for faculty and administrative offices thus 

leaving the-seventh floor available solely for Library expansion. 

The second concern related to whether the move of the senior 

University officers to the Library was permanent or subject 

to relocation again in 1981/82. 

Regarding the first of these concerns, there are 6,000 

square feet less on the second floor of the Library than on 

the seventh floor. In addition, the second floor of the Library 

also includes space for the Audio Visual Centre, an independent 

department, and the heating plant for the University. Because 

of the anticipated needs for faculty offices in the next few 

years as well as additional space for T.A.'s, graduate students 

and. support staff, space on the second floor of the Library is 

insufficient to meet these anticipated.needs. While possibly 

'satisfactory for 1976/77, it is anticipated that the pressure 

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will be such as to then require additional space elsewhere. 

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Because of the availability of adequate space on the seventh floor 

of the Library to meet both immediate and future needs, it would be 

less disruptive to Library operations to now commit the seventh floor 

to surge space for departments for the next five years rather than 

relocate to a floor in the Library which will be inadequate in two 

years. 

Regarding the second of the concerns expressed, the question 

of a subsequent move of the senior academic administrative staff of 

the University from the Library will be reviewed when Library needs for the 

seventh floor are urgent. Other alternatives will exist at that time. 

It was made clear that both President and Vice-President, Academic felt 

that the academic administration should be located in academic buildings 

as are the Deans. 

Discussion on the allocation of Library space has made it abundantly 

clear that the Library represents a unique University facility whose use 

affects students, faculty and administrative staff. Clearly, the needs 

of all three groups within the University community must be taken into 

consideration in any allocation or reallocation of Library space. Because 

of the pressing space needs which will exist in this University for the 

next five to seven years, it was emphasized that a process for a frequent 

review of Library space needs be developed and maintained. Consideration 

has been given to the use of minimum space standards and other 

quantitative 

means by which space in the Library might be allocated for various purposes. 

However, it was agreed that this does not represent a viable approach. 

Rather, a periodic assessment of the Library's present situation and 

anticipated future possibilities in the context of-University priorities is 

more appropriate. For this reason, it is proposed that the Senate Library 

Committee be charged with incorporating in its annual report an assessment 

of the current space allocation situation in the Library and the implications 

for the Library of projected subsequent increases in students, faculty, 

programs and collections. 