The Society of College, National and University Libraries (SCONUL) has announced RCSI’s Library as the winner of the 2019 SCONUL Library Design Award in the small library category.

The library, designed by Henry J Lyons, was announced as the winner at the 2019 SCONUL Library Design Award and Showcase which celebrates and explores innovation in the design of libraries and campuses.

RCSI’s library provides students and educators with modern spaces and expert services to support RCSI’s mission to transform healthcare education. Spanning three floors, the library is integrated into the state-of-the-art clinical and education building at 26 York Street. It is student-centric with a learning commons, multiple collaborative and study environments that reflect the diverse needs of students, support peer-to-peer and self-directed learning and provide easy access to the expertise of the library team and the full range of library services.

Announcing the award, Leo Appleton, Chair of the Library Design Awards Panel and Director of Library Services at Goldsmiths University of London, said: “The development of the library at the Royal College of the Surgeons in Ireland is an exceptional example of transformative design. The library spaces and functions permeate the campus building and in doing so allow for flexibility and adaptability as the library seeks to be able to respond to the requirements of the RCSI students, academics and researchers as well as the medical and clinical users, all of whom were fully engaged stakeholders in the design project. The new library makes a significant contribution to the institution which in turn has transformed medical education at the RCSI and beyond.”

Accepting the award, Kate Kelly, Director Library Services, said: “This design has enabled the library team to enhance, develop and deliver new and existing services. It has made library services visible to our users and to RCSI and it has integrated the library spaces physically and conceptually at the heart of the institutions teaching, learning and engagement activities.”

Professor Cathal Kelly, RCSI CEO, said: “We are delighted to have RCSI Library named as winner of the SCONUL Library Award. Receiving this prestigious award acknowledges the outstanding design by Henry J Lyons and celebrates the collaboration between our project team, library staff and students to make RCSI’s ambition a reality. The library has transformed RCSI’s library service, and reflects our commitment to delivering an innovative learning experience for our students and surgical trainees.”

The SCONUL Library Design Awards have been running since 1973 and are awarded every three years. The aim is to encourage good practice in library planning and to celebrate outstanding examples of cutting-edge design. The selection criteria for the awards concentrates on how design facilitates strategic alignment, service innovation, and transformation.