HFL survey: Transfer of library provision for post-45 history courses to HFL

Transcription

1 HFL survey: Transfer of library provision for post-45 history courses to HFL 1. Considering the proposal, please state which you prefer: Percent I agree with the transfer so I can find in a single library (HFL) pre and post-45 materials on core History reading lists. 66.4% 166 I disagree with the proposal. I want to continue to go to SSL for post-45 history titles which are on core History Faculty reading lists. 20.4% 51 I don t mind. 13.2% 33 answered question 250 skipped question 0 2. If you disagree with the proposal, what are you main reasons? (tick as many as relevant). Very important Important Fairly important I can borrow more books and renew them more often and for longer. 67.3% (33) 26.5% (13) 6.1% (3) 49 SSL has a better collection of books & journals for my work. 60.5% (26) 30.2% (13) 9.3% (4) 43 SSL is more conveniently located for me. 25.8% (8) 25.8% (8) 48.4% (15) 31 SSL has longer opening hours. 75.0% (45) 18.3% (11) 6.7% (4) 60 SSL has better facilities (printing & copying, IT, café, desk space, etc.). 61.1% (33) 27.8% (15) 11.1% (6) 54 Other (please specify) 12 answered question 63 skipped question 187 Page 1

2 3. Is there any other reason why you may be for or against the proposal to transfer post-45 history books on core reading lists to the HFL? 28 answered question 28 skipped question Who are you? Percent Other 0.4% 1 UG (1st yr) 29.9% 72 UG (2nd yr) 31.5% 76 UG (3rd yr) 32.4% 78 Course convenor/lecturer 5.8% 14 Other (please specify) 5 answered question 241 skipped question 9 Page 2

3 5. If relevant, state which post-45 history course(s) you are interested in (select any which are relevant): Percent HBI VII: Since % 54 GH XIV ( ) 36.6% 60 GH XVII (The History of the United States since 1863) 19.5% 32 FS19: Imperialism & Nationalism, % 44 FS21: British Economic History since % 13 FS22: British Society in the 20th century 22.0% 36 FS28: Culture, Politics and identity in Cold War Europe, % 41 SS21 The Great Society Era, % 19 SS25 The Northern Ireland Troubles, % 29 SS26 Evolution of a Modern Metropolis: London % 6 Other (please specify) 10 answered question 164 skipped question If you would be willing to be contacted, please enter your address here: 36 answered question 36 skipped question 214 Page 3

4 Post-45 survey: comments If you disagree with the proposal, what are you main reasons? (tick as many as relevant). 1. No, I was surprised to learn that they are not here. 2 SSL has a better working atmosphere and layout than the HFL. 3. comes under opening hours, but the limited opening time of the hfl on saturday, and closure on sunday are a factor. 4. For History and Politics students (who probably form a good proportion of those doing post-45 history papers) the SSL is a convienient hub for both politics and post 45 history titles. 5. The SSL has a far superior policy on renewing books. The facilities there are also much better. 6. I do MHP so I have to go the SSL anyway. Given all my history courses are post-45 means I can just use one library. 7. As a History Economics joint school student, I spend all my time working in the SSL. The better facilities make it far preferable to the HFL - I have not been there since my first year. 8. I have no opinion on this: as a predominantly ancient historian I don't use 20th literature, and don't want to get in the way of those who do use it. 9. I enjoy visiting different libraries. 10. The HFL is already crowded enough, with little space to work, and often queus at the main desk - why increase traffic through there? 11. The History Faculty library does not allow as extensive online renewal, so I avoid using it whenever I can in favour of the SSL 12. The only reason that comes to mind is the space issue - the HFL seems rather crammed full as it is. But I assume this has already been thought through and accounted for. Is there any other reason why you may be for or against the proposal to transfer post- 45 history books on core reading lists to the HFL? 1 I am for the proposal in general, but it is useful that the SSL is open on Sundays. 2. As the convenor of Economic History of Britain since 1870 I am opposed to the plan. The vast majority of students taking the paper are in PPE, History & Econ and Economics and Management. SSC is natural library for these students. 3. Closer. Nice to have it under one roof. 4. The SSL's longer opening hours (esp evening opening) are extremely useful and it would obviously be better if the HFL was able to increase hours to this level. All in all, though, the ability to consult pre- and post-1945 books in one place seems more convenient to me. 5. The HFL is much more central for a larger number of students: only New, St Catherines or possibly Magdale students benefit from the SSL location. The HFL is also nearer the major bodleian libraries. 6. It makes more sense to have them all in one library. Perhaps lending allowances should be increased to 15 books in order to accommodate the needs of those who previously benefitted from increased allowances at the SSL. 7. hfl doesn't allow me to renew online and it has inconvenient hours 8. The books will then move with the HFL to the new Humanities Library, when it is finally built. 9. The primary motivation is opening hours. The SSL is Open till 6pm at Weekends, whereas the HFL shuts at 1pm on Saturday and is shut on Sunday. Given I usually work on a Sunday, if the 1

5 materials were located in the HFL, I could not access them and it would be very inconvienient. Additionally, the SSL shuts at 10pm on weekdays, versus 7pm for the HFL, meaning I can work after dinner at the SSL, where I cannot at the HFL, again an inconvienience. 10. Provided the SSL is able to keep post-45 history books for such courses as 'British Politics and Government since 1900', I think the change so that all History books are located in the HFL makes sense. 11. In favour of the transfer. I have recently taken a FHS post-45 course and felt that the placing of books in the SSL rather than the HFL suggested that the course was not being fully supported as a History (rather than Politics) course and that the validity of studying the period as History was subsequently being undermined by the Faculty. Moving the books to the HFL would reassure post- 45 students that their course is not an undervalued afterthought. 12. because it would make much more sense to have all the core materials in the same building, making work more efficient, particularly for finalists. 13. The history faculty library has too limited desk space. I see it as a lending library and not a reading room. The SSL conversely, has a sufficient reading room. Obvisouly distance to the SSL is a factor for most UG. 14. There is considerable overlap between many of the texts in the SSL and the post-45 reading lists, especially on political and economic developments. 15. I really don't have a personal bias either way, because I have not, and will not be studying post 1945 history, however I feel it makes sense to have everything under one roof. It's just a little easier, and seems more organised. 16. Probably better for MHPists who have to go to the SSL anyway to have the post 45 books in the SSL as it has longer opening hours (especially Sunday), more work space and it increases the number of books you can get out, but for straight historians, going all the way up to the SSL would be a hassle, especially if half the books you need are in the HFL and half in the SSL, if you're doing bpth a pre and post 1945 course. 17. no, sounds like a good idea 18. I have taken a post-45 course for my further subject and found the lack of availability of books - particularly set texts - for my course in both the HFL and additionally in my college library very inconvenient. Having these situated int he HFL would, I feel, assist history undergraduates doing such courses. 19. HFL more convenient for me. Also seems absurd to stop 'history' at am currently studying German Reunification in the 1990s! 20. It is something I have campaigned for for years. I am delighted it will finally occur. 21. SSL is a more pleasant space to work in/look for books, it also usually has multiple copies where the HFL only has one. 22. Although it is annoying that the books are not in the same place the SSL does have a better collection of relavent other material for post 1945, it has much better facilities, you can renew book more often and there is more space! the HFL has pathetic opening hours on the weekends and it would be very fustrating if there were no books available on a sunday for history because everything was moved away from the SSL which opens late and all weekend. 23. The History Faculty library has limited workspace, if the post 1945 works were moved into the HFL, competition for places and noise levels would increase even more. 24. Convenient to have all history in one place 25. It will be a great advantage if the HFL becoms responsible for BUYING books on the later 20th century to support History courses. In 20th century British History (and I expect the same is true of General History) the syllabuses/content of History courses is significantly broader than that of Politics courses. I recently (in the context of a fellowship election) looked for monographs by a couple of the candidates - both well-regarded and on topics which our undergraduates would cover in BH 7 - one had not been bought by the SSL, the other had but appeared to have been 2

6 lost (and Blackwell's informed me that it was now out of print). 26. Makes sense to have as much as is relevant to history undergrads available in one place. 27. The disadvantages for the people who live near the SSL are exactly the same for those of us who live far away from the SSL at the moment and have to go there for books. The HFL should be a one-stop solution for historical research, and complaining about travelling far is plain laziness. Who are you? 1. MSt in History (+ Cont Ed. F/Certificate) 2. UG Hth yr (joint schools) 3. (but possibly returning for a Masters) 4. UG 4th year (History and Modern languages) 5. UG 4th year (Italian) If relevant, state which post-45 course(s) you are interested in (select any which are relevant). Other: 1. Modern History & Politics - so 20th Century political/international history papers too. 2. None 3. wrote compulsory thesis on the Spanish Civil War 4. Thesis on 20th century Britain 5. SS 24 War and Reconstruction requires some reference to post-1945 titles, eg to see how wartime economic and social policies were carried through into the postwar years. 6. Disciplines Paper 7. FS25 - Soviet Union and GHXIII are often well-provided for in SSL. 8. None 9. Thesis - modern african resistance. 10. I do not have a great interest in this period yet, but agree with the proposals on principle. 3