A college library, reimagined
Why does Hertford need a new library?
Our library is the centre of our academic community and the engine of knowledge exchange. However, the current building, last updated in the 1960s, does not adequately serve our students, nor properly protect our books and archives. Staff and reader facilities are no longer fit for purpose, and we do not have enough capacity for our modern or our historic collections.
We have ambitious plans to change that. The new building will be a living space, with step-free access to all floors and room to grow the collection. There will be space for traditional quiet solo working alongside areas where students can work together and talk through ideas. Access to online as well as print resources will be futureproofed, and there will be facilities to enable students to create digital projects beyond the traditional essay. Researchers will be able to consult our special collections in a state-of-the-art, temperature-controlled room and we will have the space to store and display our historic archives.
What will make the Hertford library special is that it has our values at its heart: access, academic excellence and sustainability. Like Hertford it will be open and welcoming, a place of opportunity. And in the Hertford spirit, it is a unifying, collaborative project for the whole Hertford community.
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“It's really exciting to see what this project is going to mean for our students, but I'd like to reassure you that we're not going to lose the Hertfordness of the library"
EMMA SMITH
Fellow Librarian
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“The library is a communal place where students can come to work and be in their academic community, united with other students”
ALICE ROQUES
Librarian
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“The idea was to take everything away, look at what currently works, and then redefine what a library means for Hertford"
MANDY FRANZ
Architect
Let’s make it happen
The library will cost £20m to build, and we aim to raise at least £8m from philanthropic donations. Every gift, whether large or small, will make a real difference.
The Magdalen Hall Benefactors’ Books recorded donations from the 1650s to the 1740s of books, coins, globes and money to the library. We will be recreating this book online to celebrate all donations to our new library, particularly those under £1,000 which will not be recorded elsewhere.
Donors giving £1,000 ($1,200) will be acknowledged through a named seat in the library. The Development team will contact ‘name a seat’ donors upon receipt of their donation to record preferences for how their name will appear; alternatively you can contact us directly by email.
Please get in touch with the Development Office if you would like to make a major gift to the Library Campaign. There are opportunities to fund a specific area of the library. Gifts can be made tax efficiently in the UK, US and beyond, and can be spread over a number of years.
Fundraising for other priorities continues, and we very much welcome your support! Donations go towards funds for student bursaries and hardship, scholarships and outreach, supporting teaching and research at the college, maintaining the buildings and facilities, alongside much, much more.