Anger at plans to close uni library

Wednesday, October 23, 2002 - 10:00

BY PETER ROBSON

NEWCASTLE — An angry crowd of staff and students confronted Newcastle University vice-chancellor Roger Holmes on October 16 as he attempted to justify plans to close the Huxley Library and replace it with an electronic "information commons".

The university's Information and Electronic Services Division has been pushing for the change for several years. This year, it has begun a "consultation process" with students to sell the idea. In the forums that are part of this process, students have voiced opposition to the loss of hard-copy services. At one forum, all 200 students present voted against the proposal.

"No-one opposes more electronic resources", one student told Green Left Weekly, "but what we're opposed to is the loss of the hard-copy and educational resources that we currently have".

To get involved in actions to save the Huxley Library, contact the Newcastle University Students Association on (02) 4968 1281.

From Green Left Weekly, October 23, 2002.

Visit the Green Left Weekly home page.

From GLW issue 513