the library but by other university departments supporting research too” (Carroll, 2011b, p. 55). Novel services include Research Match (“a unique service which profiles your research and makes it visible”) and Collaborative Sandpits (interactive multi-day workshops to create project proposals for funding).

With separate programming for graduate research students, early career researchers, and academics/research staff, the facility has its own dedicated staffing, with a Research Exchange and PG Hub Manager, a Coordinator, Support Officers, and Assistants, who work alongside other managers and academic support specialists in the Academic Services division of the Library. In situ support is provided by a team of part-time Advisers, who are all current or recent PhD students (Carroll, 2011a). The Library website presents the facility as “A space, a website, a community”, reflecting itsstudy desks finished in oak and leather, providing larger than standard worktop space, and LED task lighting at each desk”. Birmingham, similarly, has a Researchers’ Room “reserved for use by postgraduate research students and academics only”.

Social space and technology provision generally differentiate contemporary researcher facilities from traditional reading rooms. For example, Durham is developing a researchers’ study area for the exclusive use of postgraduate research students, with individual, collaborative and social areas, which is also being used to promote information about library support for research. At Exeter, the Old Library housing the University’s special collections has been refurbished and renamed the Research Commons, with a new large reading room, enhanced IT, multi-media seminar room, and café-style break out space and terrace area. At York, where the Library was