Frequently Asked Questions - Faculty & Staff

When will the Bata Library open?

The Bata Library will have a soft opening on Monday, October 29, 2018, as students return from reading week. During this phase of the opening, services at Bata Library will focus on prioritizing access to library and student services, books, resources and study spaces. Research centres and other services and operations will come online in a phased-in approach. It is anticipated that the library will be fully open by the end of November. Further details about this schedule will be shared as they become available.

What services will be available when the doors open on October 29?

Services available for the soft opening of Bata Library include:

• Full suite of library services and resources, including carefully selected book and non-print collections, and access to library staff
• Student areas and study spaces, including group study rooms and tables, quiet study spaces, presentation practice room, casual seating areas, and more
• Wi-Fi service and public computer areas and printing access
• Information Technology help desk
• Maps, Data and Government Information Centre (MaDGIC)
• A stunning living wall feature on the main floor and other exciting new design and facility features

What does a soft opening mean? Will the renovations be complete or will work still be completed?

A soft launch means there are a few finishing touches to be made before the Bata Library transformation is fully complete. For the soft opening on Monday, October 29, services at Bata Library will focus on prioritizing access to library and student services, books, resources and study spaces.  

Any final renovations will be completed between 12:00 a.m. and 6:00 a.m. while the library is closed. During the day, workers may be present completing some non-disruptive finishing touches, such as painting.

What hours is the library open? Will these hours change?

As of October 29, 2018, the Bata Library will be open for regular operating hours:

Extended Library hours are in effect December 3 – December 18, 2018

Will the entire library be open or only certain floors/spaces?

All student areas and study spaces in Bata Library will be accessible and available as of Monday, October 29, 2018, including group study rooms and tables, quiet study spaces, presentation practice room, casual seating areas, and more. Some research centres on the fourth floor and administrative offices on the first floor will be part of the second phase of the opening.

The Archives move back to Bata from downtown will take place in early November and the archives will be fully operational in Bata by late November.

What can I expect to find in the newly transformed library when it is fully complete?

The library is the academic heart of Trent University. This transformation ensures the Bata Library will maintain this important space/role on campus for years to come. Upon final completion, slated for November 2018, features of Trent’s new library of the future will include:

• An entrepreneurship and social innovation centre – providing a valuable site for social engagement in experiential learning, and development of new experiential learning projects and work placements for students
• Various locations for the carefully selected book and non-print collections – our modernized library features both print collections and modern and expanding digital resources
• Three research centres: Trent Centre for Aging and Society; Indigenous Environmental Studies Institute; Canadian Centre for Environmental Modelling in Chemistry
• Two visualization labs – many disciplines are engaging with art and technology through new mediums, such as gaming, and Trent's new labs allows for the creation of more sophisticated visualization tools – including virtual realities,
• Critical Making Studio gives students, faculty, and librarians access to the tools they need in order to produce objects that will assist their research, teaching, and learning, i.e. 3D printing
• Educational design research studio to support faculty across all disciplines in learning about and implementing the most recent developments in higher education teaching practice
• A presentation practice room - a space where students can prepare, create and practice presentations for seminars and classes with their peers, or independently
• A wide selection of interactive student spaces (group and individual) to promote social engagement and collaborative learning – spaces like this are central to modern libraries
• Design elements to promote environmental sustainability, including a green living wall
• Preserved and refreshed original Ron Thom décor and furnishings

Why was the transformation project delayed?

Challenges associated with pre-existing structural and mechanical conditions, some present since 1967, added eight weeks of construction time to the project. Additionally, the general contractor has encountered some business and resources challenges that have slowed progress late in the project.

I’m an employee who will have an office in the library, when will I find out about moving back into the space?

The first phase of the opening focuses on prioritizing access to library and student services, books, resources and study spaces. Many of the areas for faculty and staff (outside of library staff) are part of the next phases of the opening. Further details about this schedule will be shared as they become available.

I plan to use some of the rooms in the library for teaching/meeting space. When can I start booking space and has the process for booking changed?

Teaching, meeting and study space in Bata Library will be available to book as of Wednesday, October 24, 2018 for use after Monday, October 29. The process to book rooms will be the same, using the Room Bookings software on the myTrent portal.

Who can I talk to if I have more specific questions?

Any questions about the Bata transformation can be sent to University Librarian Robert Clarke at libraryadministration@trentu.ca