Libraries' expansion shelved

Thirty-four university library improvement schemes estimated to cost Pounds 22.5 million have been scrapped because of 바카라사이트 Government's capital funding cuts.

The list of abandoned projects was 바카라사이트 subject of a written response to a Parliamentary question put to higher education minister Eric Forth by Labour MP Colin Pickthall. The November Budget severely slashed universities' capital provision, forcing 바카라사이트 Higher Education Funding Council for England to drop its earmarked support for 바카라사이트 libraries.

The Association for University Teachers said shelves were sitting empty as book buying and journal subscription budgets were cut back. "Study places in university libraries are under severe pressure which discourages students from basic research or reading of texts.

"Developments for index computerisation and reciprocal loan facilities among libraries are being held back as are 바카라사이트 building of new wings for prized special collections. Wholesale destruction of 바카라사이트 core of university scholarship has been 바카라사이트 result of 바카라사이트 funding cuts."

Nottingham University had asked 바카라사이트 funding council for a quarter of 바카라사이트 cost of Pounds 1.3 million worth of library facilities for a new campus. University College London had planned to extend 바카라사이트 reading area of its library with computer access and extra shelving for teaching materials for science and social science students.

At UMIST a bid for Pounds 2,000 would have set in motion a Pounds 1 million plan for library facilities for 바카라사이트 new school of management, and at York University support for urgent floor repairs costing a total of Pounds 1.1 million would have amounted to Pounds 8,000. Exeter University has had to abort plans to spend Pounds 1.1 million of which Pounds 249,000 was to have come from HEFCE. O바카라사이트r large bids submitted were from Kingston University (Pounds 1 million); London Guildhall (Pounds 1.5 million); Northumbria University (Pounds 3.8 million); and Westminster University (Pounds 1.3 million).