40,000 sq. ft. facility holding 2.5M items
A significant portion of the Library’s collections will be moved off-campus to a dedicated facility. This book move will increase the available study and workspace for the McGill community through the Fiat Lux Project.
Related links
- Video: Books on the Move at McLennan-Redpath
Sustainable Storage at McGill's Collections Centre- Collections Centre intake starts Fall 2023 (Reporter, March 2023)
- Libraries infrastructure updates (Reporter, Jan 2023)
- Movement of Archives, Rare & Special Collections, and Visual Arts Collections
- Fiat Lux Project
Feedback & questions
- For inquiries about this project info.library [at] mcgill.ca (contact us).
- Or submit feedback here.
Books from McLennan-Redpath moving to the Collections Centre in Fall 2023
As of Fall 2023, access to the print collections (books, and other items such as journals, microfilm, microfiche, etc.) from the McLennan-Redpath Library Complex will gradually be restricted to allow materials to be systematically moved and inventoried in the McGill University Collections Centre (MUCC). Each floor/area will remain open until movers are working in that area. During the moving period, access to the floor will be closed. As shelving and books are moved, furniture will be added to open floors to maximize seating. Other Library workspaces on campus and in the McLennan-Redpath Complex are available during these intermittent closures.
Books moving to the MUCC will be unavailable until the MUCC opens. As a result, the "Request/ Hold" button for items on the move will not appear in the catalogue. The hold button to borrow from other Quebec libraries (Network Loans) and InterLibrary Loan will remain.
If the "Request/Hold" button does not appear, McGill users (i.e. McGill students, faculty & staff) can continue to borrow books in the following ways:
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Existing e-book option
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Network loan or InterLibrary Loan from another university library through Sofia (McGill catalogue)
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Purchased/acquired (specific cases)
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For McGill faculty only: Access to stacks during floor closure (by appointment)
*Book access will depend on the stage of the move at the time of the request.
McGill faculty members, students, and staff are strongly encouraged to borrow and keep all the books they anticipate needing from the McLennan-Redpath library complex as soon as possible – before the next academic year begins in fall 2023.
Book Move Timeline, Scope of Work, Status & Impact on Users*
| TIMELINE | AFFECTED AREAS | SCOPE OF WORK | STATUS | IMPACT TO USERS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Phase one: September 2023 to February 2024 | McLennan-Redpath Library Complex | Books to move from the downtown campus to Collections Centre . | Users will have access to books on floors where book move has yet to take place. The retrieval of books will be infrequent & for special cases only on floors where move is in process. | |
| September to October 2023 |
Closed storage area for books and some materials in McGill University Archives. |
Clearing of stacks. Packing and moving of books. | Work in progress. No hold button in the catalogue. | Readers planning to use archival materials during the moving period are asked to reserve items ahead of time so that they can be accessible during this phase. More information. |
| October 2023 | Basements in McLennan and Redpath Library Complex (except Chinese/Japanese/Korean (CJK) Collection. | Clearing of stacks. Packing and moving of books. | Books have been packed and moved. | Books moved. Floor reopened. |
| November 2023 | McLennan 1st floor (except DVD and course reserves) | Clearing of stacks. Packing and moving of books. | Books have been packed and moved. | Books moved. Floor open. |
| November 2023 | McLennan 2nd floor (except microfilms) | Clearing of stacks. Packing and moving of books. | Books have been packed and moved. | Books moved. Floor open. |
| November 2023 | McLennan 6th floor | Clearing of stacks. Packing and moving of books. | Books have been packed and moved. | Books moved. Floor reopened. |
| December-February 2023 | McLennan 5th floor | Clearing of stacks. Packing and moving of books. | Books have been packed and moved. | Books moved. Floor reopened. |
| February 2024 | McLennan 3rd floor | Clearing of stacks. Packing and moving of books. | Books have been packed and moved. | Books moved. Floor reopened. |
| March 2024 | Redpath 3rd floor (Blackader-Lauterman) | Clearing of stacks. Packing and moving of books. | Books have been packed and moved. | Books moved. Floor reopened. |
| March-April 2024 | Chinese, Japanese, Korean (CJK) Collection | Clearing of stacks. Packing and moving of books. | Books have been packed and moved. | Books moved. Floor remains closed. |
| Fall 2023 to Winter 2024 | McLennan 4th floor (Rare Books and Special Collections, Canadian Architecture Collection, Visual Arts Collection, McGill University Archives). | Collection preparation & packing period. |
Reference response times delayed. The reading room accessible by appointment. Email rarebooks.library [at] mcgill.ca to book a time. All material must be requested in advance. More information. |
|
| Phase Two: March to June 2024 | ||||
| Spring/Summer 2024 |
McLennan 4th floor (Rare Books and Special Collections (RBSC), Canadian Architecture Collection, Visual Arts Collection, McGill University Archives) |
Rare books move from the downtown campus to Collections Centre. |
Readers planning to use RBSC materials during the moving period are asked to reserve items ahead of time so that they can be accessible during this phase. More information. |
|
| June 2024 | Collections Centre | Collections Centre is operational weekdays and serving all users. | Books held in the Collections Centre are available for loan to all users (through ILL, network loan or by request in Sofia catalogue). Daily scanning service available. | |
| Summer 2024 | Collections Centre | Book move complete. |
|
*Subject to change. Watch this space for updated information.
Frequently Asked Questions | Foire aux questions
What is the McGill University Collections Centre? | Qu’est-ce que le Centre des collections de l’Université McGill?
Books will always play a vital role in the life of the Library, but it no longer makes sense to devote a large footprint downtown to keeping print media that is not in high demand. At the same time, McGill needs to fulfill its mandate to preserve and make available deep, unusual collections for humanity. To this end, McGill Library created a Collections Centre at Salaberry-de-Valleyfield, just off-island. By moving a large portion of the University’s print collection to this new facility—which will be carefully climate-controlled, therefore better preserving the materials—the Library will be able to repurpose valuable in-library space to better serve the needs of today’s students, faculty, and researchers.
Les livres resteront toujours au cœur de la mission de la Bibliothèque de McGill. Toutefois, il n’est pas raisonnable aujourd’hui de consacrer une grande superficie sur le campus du centre-ville à des ouvrages peu consultés. Parallèlement, McGill doit remplir son mandat de préserver des collections riches et rares et de les mettre à la disposition du public. À cette fin, la Bibliothèque a fait construire le Centre des collections à Salaberry-de-Valleyfield, tout près de l’île de Montréal. Une grande partie des documents imprimés seront conservés dans cette nouvelle installation, dont l’atmosphère est contrôlée pour bien les préserver. Les espaces ainsi libérés seront réaffectés pour mieux servir la clientèle.
What kind of technology will be used to store and retrieve items? | Comment les livres seront-ils entreposés et récupérés?
An intelligent, high-density storage and retrieval system will be used for efficiency and reduction of long-term energy costs. | Un système automatisé assurera l’entreposage de haute densité et la récupération des livres tout en réduisant les coûts de l’énergie à long terme.
How many books will fit into the Collections Centre? | Combien de livres le Centre des collections pourra-t-il contenir?
The automated equipment in the Collections Centre has room for 2.5 million books. In addition, there will be shelving for other types of material in the Library’s collection. | Grâce à son équipement automatisé, le Centre des collections pourra accueillir 2,5 millions de livres. Il y aura aussi de la place pour d’autres types de documents des collections de la Bibliothèque.
When will you be moving books from the McLennan-Redpath library complex to the Collections Centre? | Quand aura lieu le déménagement des livres du complexe McLennan-Redpath vers le Centre des collections?
The Collections Centre has been built. The book move will begin in fall of 2023. Library systems will keep track of items during the move and will manage loans thereafter. As of Fall 2023, access to the print collections from the McLennan- Redpath library complex will gradually be restricted to allow materials to be systematically moved and inventoried in the Collection Centre.
La construction du Centre des collections est maintenant achevée, et le transfert des documents imprimés debutera à l’automne 2023. Sofia, le catalogue de la Bibliothèque, sera mis à jour et gérera les prêts par la suite. À partir de l’automne 2023, les collections de livres du complexe McLennan-Redpath seront progressivement et systématiquement déménagées et répertoriées dans le Centre des collections.
When will the Collections Centre be fully operational? | Quand le Centre des collections sera-t-il complètement opérationnel?
The Collections Centre is expected to be operational in spring 2024. At that time, McGill faculty, students, and staff members will be able to borrow all the print books that were transferred by making a request in the Library’s catalogue, Sofia. | Le Centre des collections devrait être opérationnel au printemps 2024. Il sera alors possible d’y emprunter des documents imprimés en faisant la demande dans le catalogue de la Bibliothèque (Sofia).
How can I get books once the Collections Centre is operational? | Comment pourrai-je emprunter des livres du Centre des collections?
Once in operation, library users will be able to request stored materials through the Library catalogue, Sofia, and the materials will be delivered to the library of your choice for pick up on a daily basis. The Faculty Office Delivery option will be available. The Collections Centre itself will not be open to users. | Lorsque le Centre des collections sera opérationnel, il sera possible d’y emprunter des documents à l’aide du catalogue Sofia, en précisant la bibliothèque où ceux-ci doivent être déposés. Le Centre effectuera des livraisons quotidiennes. Les professeur.e.s pourront se prévaloir du service de livraison à leur bureau. Le Centre des collections sera fermé au public.
I am a scholar from another university who uses the InterLibrary Loan (ILL) and network loans systems. Can I access a book from McGill's collection during the book move period? | Je suis d’une autre université et j’utilise les services de prêt entre bibliothèques (PEB) et de prêt réseau. Pourrai-je emprunter des livres de la collection de McGill durant la période de transfert?
Books are available for loan if the “Request/Hold or Scan” button is an access option in the catalogue. If the “Request/Hold or Scan” button no longer appears as an access option, then the book is in transit and cannot be loaned out. Books are scheduled to become fully available through ILL and network loans systems in spring 2024. | Les livres disponibles pour le prêt seront signalés dans le catalogue par un bouton de « demande/réservation ou numérisation ». Si ce bouton n’apparaît pas dans les options, c’est que le livre est en transfert, donc indisponible pour le prêt. Tous les livres devraient redevenir disponibles pour le PEB et le prêt réseau au printemps 2024.
What initiatives related to sustainability is the Collections Centre undertaking? | Quelles initiatives d’écoresponsabilité ont été entreprises pour le Centre des collections?
1) LEED Certified Facility: The building is energy efficient; its exterior grounds are low maintenance. It has two charging stations for electric vehicles. 2) High density storage reduces the carbon footprint of the warehouse building by 75%. 3) Energy efficient robots: Running robots for a 24 hour shift uses less energy than running a vaccum for thirty minutes. 4) A sustainable move: Moving contract awarded to supplier who could provide a maximum in fuel efficiency and a minimum waste of packaging to move 2.5M volumes. 5) Efficient book delivery: Digital versions of requested materials will be offered to users. Delivery physical materials will be electric.
1) La certification LEED : le bâtiment est écoénergétique et situé sur un terrain demandant peu d’entretien. Il compte deux bornes de recharge pour véhicules électriques. 2) Le système d’entreposage de haute densité : celui-ci réduit de 75 % le bilan carbone du bâtiment. 3) Des robots écoénergétiques : l’utilisation de robots pendant 24 heures consomme moins d’énergie qu’un aspirateur qui fonctionne pendant une demi-heure. 4) Un déménagement écoresponsable : le contrat de services de déménagement a été attribué au fournisseur qui pouvait offrir la plus grande économie d’énergie tout en produisant un minimum de déchets d’emballage pour transporter 2,5 millions de volumes. 5) Des livraisons efficaces : des versions numériques des documents seront mises à la disposition des usagères et usagers. Les livraisons quotidiennes de documents se feront par véhicule électrique.
