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Students Evacuated

Hartley Library

12th December 2009
Jessica Fuhl

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The fire alarms of Hartley rang out across the library on Tuesday 24 November, as a small fire was found in the library’s basement.

The fire, discovered by a member of the University’s Estates and Facilities Team, is believed to have broken out in a circuit located beneath the first floor. All staff and users of the library had to be evacuated when the alarms went off at about 1.30pm, and the Fire Brigade attended the scene.

Deputy Librarian Richard Ware has reassured students that no users of the library or any books were affected by the fire. He said: ‘The fire was spotted immediately and extinguished quickly.’

The fire did, however, affect the battery of the library’s emergency lighting. As a result, Hartley library had to close from 4 o’clock on the evening of the fire, and again on the following day. Mr. Richard Ware, who has been working at the library for seven years, explained that ‘If the power failed in the library then we would’ve had no emergency lighting. When it gets dark some parts of the library which aren’t near to any windows can get extremely dark. We are bound by health and safety regulations to ensure that our emergency power lighting works.’

Mr. Ware, who spoke two days after the fire, said: ‘The Estates and Facilities Team are working around the clock to install a generator to fix the problem. Obviously we don’t want to be closed when we have said that we will be open, if we could have found a way to be open then we would have, but our only option was to close. I am happy it was given the highest priority.’

He continues: ‘I think that the library responded well to the situation. I do appreciate that it was a problem for a lot of people, but in the circumstances we had no alternative. If anybody feels that more could have been done, then by all means, we happy to take students’ suggestions.’

All students were informed about the fire and the closing of Hartley Library through emails sent by the University’s central administration department. Notices were also placed on the Southampton University Library website, and on the entrances to the library.

Mr. Ware would like to inform students that no one will be penalised for being unable to return the books as a result of the library’s closure. He also would like to remind users of the library that a letterbox is situated in the right hand side of the building, where books can be posted if they need to be returned when the library is shut.
The University’s Library website states that: ‘The University Library considers the health and safety of its staff and its users to be of the utmost importance. The policy of all the site libraries of the University Library is to provide and maintain safe and healthy working conditions, equipment and systems of work for all its users.’

Simon Higman, Registrar and Chief Operating Officer of the University said: ‘I am pleased to confirm that the electrical fault that has affected access to the Hartley Library this week has been rectified and that normal opening hours have now resumed. Please accept my apologies for any inconvenience that the early closure of the library may have caused you.’