Save ASSL

Dear Amanda,

We write in response to your statement regarding the proposed changes to the Arts and Social Studies library that were signed off by the UEB as of last week.   

First and foremost, thank you for confirming that the ASSL is indeed a “location being considered” for these trial plans, and that if you do take the proposal forward this year, then you will “work with [students], staff and the Students Union throughout.” In the spirit of this, we would like to take this opportunity to respond to a number of points in your statement.

Cardiff University staff and students can read the full message that Professor Amanda Tonks (Interim Pro Vice-Chancellor Education and Student Experience), sent to students regarding plans for the ASSL here: 

<https://intranet.cardiff.ac.uk/students/news/view/3048111-arts-and-social-studies-library-update> 

For the public, our critique of Prof. Tonks’ statement can be read here (Prof. Tonks’ words are italicised):

“…I’m writing to reassure some of you following recent, incorrect reports about our Arts and Social Studies Library (ASSL). I am aware there is some concern about potential changes.

To be clear, we will not be removing “all books” 

We welcome that not all books will be removed, but this stands in direct contradiction to the email sent to all University Library Staff (ULS) on the 15th of May that stated:

 “the footprint of the new space [will cover] the central area which houses the collections”. 

Who is correct here? Is it possible that ULS were misinformed as to how much space would be taken up by the new teaching spaces?

You have said that you will not be removing “all books” (which technically gives you leeway to leave a bare minimum).  Please would you give us a more informative plan regarding your approach—what percentage of stock do you intend to remove, and what schools/courses will be affected by the collection reductions?  Please be honest with students, the public, and your staff.

“…,managing our collections responsibly and caring for important collections like the Salisbury Collection.”

We welcome that these collections are safe.  Please clarify whether they will still be freely available to the general public on a walk-in basis without the need of them having to order specific items from our stores, which is currently only a service students and members can use. The loss of walk-in access to the public for these collections would go against the spirit of Cardiff University’s Civic Mission and Public Engagement policies.

“…I also want to stress there is no impact on the number of library staff that we have at Cardiff University.”

We welcome this assurance.  Along with the wider university we are currently in a hiring freeze, with positions open at all grades that have not been backfilled. There may be no impact to staff numbers NOW, but we seek assurance that roles will be backfilled to levels from AT LEAST May 2026.

“What we are doing is exploring the idea of introducing multi-purpose study and learning spaces on our campuses to see if they can significantly increase space for students and improve the learning experience we offer you.” 

The ASSL is currently the only building solely dedicated to being a library on campus.  The proposals as we understand them would be detrimental to the quiet study floor of the ASSL in that they would lead to the top floor collection being broken up and the loss of 160 silent study spaces.

“…This would create a flexible space, modelled on examples from the best universities globally.”

Could you please let us know about these examples e.g. do they have other dedicated central libraries?

“The ASSL is only one location being considered to host this trial space, and the final location has not been agreed…” 

Once again we would like to point out that these plans were presented as being complete enough for ULS senior management to inform all staff that building work would commence in mid-June 2026. This is tantamount to gaslighting the staff of ULS.

If the ASSL is only one of a number of locations being considered, we would like to ask UEB which other sites are currently within scope, and whether they too have been told to expect work to start in June? 

“…but we know it must be in a convenient location for you.”

It would not be convenient for the students and public who currently use the top floor to find books or to study in silence.

“While the space would be used for teaching, it would also provide additional high quality study space.”

Our current understanding is that these proposed refurbishments would replace 160 full time silent study spaces with study spaces that would only be available outside of teaching hours. We would like to understand how we can be expected to maintain the area as a silent study zone with class-sized student movements at the beginning and end of lectures.

The ASSL is the only building on campus where students can go to be away from the apparatus of the University. Part of its popularity (it is seen as an iconic part of the Cardiff experience), is because the students are not being encroached upon by the University. We understand and agree that a convenient location is needed, but ASSL is not it. ASSL is a library, intended for books, and as a decompression area for students. Having large groups of students leaving at the end of classes will completely alter the psychology of the whole building.

“Since 2020, we have already delivered an additional 1,000 study spaces on campus for you, and we are committed to responding to your calls for even more quality study spaces.”

We would like to note that collections at Bute and Trevithick libraries have shrunk to accommodate some of these spaces.

“If we do take this proposal forward this year, I want to reassure you that:

• we will work with you, staff and the Students’ Union throughout”

We welcome the idea of collaboration (which has only been mentioned now, AFTER plans were announced to staff), but are still yet to be approached. We ask that this project is paused until thorough and meaningful consultation has taken place, and a proposal has been successfully supported by representatives of ALL key stakeholders.

• “any work will likely be undertaken over the summer to minimise disruption. “

We welcome that Cardiff University appears to have engaged with contractors that are talented enough to work on a building (and one that has Interim Protected status from CADW no less), where plans are not finalised three weeks before the proposed project starts. We are concerned that any work done over the summer will disrupt students trying to use the ASSL during resits. As experienced during renovation works on the first and second floor in 2024, there will be noise and space issues for anyone using the building, and the collection on the second floor is highly likely to be inaccessible to students and the public.

In conclusion, whilst we are glad the university has responded, we reject the parts of the statement which imply that we have overreacted, or exaggerated the threat to our beloved ASSL. Whilst we welcome engagement, we still await this, and believe the University Executive Board could have done this earlier, in line with the University’s own stated values. 

Over 8000 people have signed the petition, which demonstrates the passion for the ASSL detailed above. We hope the UEB can understand the special place the ASSL and its collections hold in the hearts of students, staff, alumni, and the wider general public, and leave it as a space where core university memories can be formed for many years to come. Despite what any think-tank announces there is no greater technology than books, and there never will be. 

Everybody who works at the University, from library staff to the UEB have the students’ best interests at heart, but we believe these plans are misguided and need to be realised in another area to truly bolster the university education and experience of our wonderful students.

Annwyl Amanda,

Rydym yn ysgrifennu atoch i ymateb i’ch datganiad ynghylch cynlluniau yn seiliedig â’r llyfrgell y Celfyddydau ac Astudiaethau Cymdeithasol a gafodd eu cymeradwyo gan y Bwrdd Gweithredol wythnos diwethaf.

Yn gyntaf oll, diolch i chi am gadarnhau bod yr ASSL yn wir yn “lleoliad sy’n cael ei ystyried” ar gyfer y cynlluniau treial hyn, ac os byddwch yn bwrw ymlaen â’r cynnig eleni, yna byddwch yn “gweithio gyda [myfyrwyr], staff ac Undeb y Myfyrwyr drwyddo draw.” Yn yr ysbryd yma, hoffem fanteisio ar y cyfle hwn i ymateb i nifer o bwyntiau yn eich datganiad.

Gall staff a myfyrwyr Prifysgol Caerdydd ddarllen y neges lawn a anfonodd yr Athro Amanda Tonks (Dirprwy Is-Ganghellor Dros Dro Addysg a Phrofiad Myfyrwyr), at fyfyrwyr ynghylch cynlluniau ar gyfer yr ASSL yma:

<https://intranet.cardiff.ac.uk/students/news/view/3048111-arts-and-social-studies-library-update>

Gall y cyhoedd ddarllen ein beirniadaeth o ddatganiad yr Athro Tonks yma (mae geiriau’r Athro Tonks mewn italig):

“…Rwy’n ysgrifennu i dawelu meddyliau rhai ohonoch yn dilyn adroddiadau diweddar, (anghywir) am ein Llyfrgell Celfyddydau ac Astudiaethau Cymdeithasol (ASSL). Rwy’n ymwybodol bod rhywfaint o bryder ynghylch newidiadau posibl. I fod yn glir, ni fyddwn yn cael gwared ar “bob llyfr”

Rydym yn croesawu na fydd pob llyfr yn cael ei gael gwared ohono, ond mae hyn yn groes i’r e-bost a anfonwyd at holl Staff Llyfrgell y Brifysgol (ULS) ar y 15fed o Fai a ddywedodd:

“bydd y gofod newydd yn gorchuddio’r ardal ganolog sy’n gartref i’r casgliadau”.

Pwy sy’n gywir yma? A yw’n bosibl bod ULS wedi cael camarweiniad ynghylch faint o le fyddai’n cael ei gymryd gan y mannau addysgu newydd?

Rydych chi wedi dweud na fyddwch chi’n cael gwared ar “bob llyfr” (sy’n rhoi rhyddid i chi adael lleiafswm yn dechnegol). A fyddech chi’n rhoi cynllun mwy gwybodus i ni ynghylch eich dull gweithredu—pa ganran o stoc ydych chi’n bwriadu ei chael gwared ohono fe, a pha ysgolion/cyrsiau fydd yn cael eu heffeithio gan y gostyngiadau casgliadau? Byddwch yn onest gyda myfyrwyr, y cyhoedd, a’ch staff. 

“…,rheoli ein casgliadau’n gyfrifol a gofalu am gasgliadau pwysig fel Casgliad Salisbury.”

Rydym yn croesawu bod y casgliadau hyn yn ddiogel. Eglurwch a fyddant yn dal i fod ar gael am ddim i’r cyhoedd ar sail galw heibio heb yr angen iddynt archebu eitemau penodol, sef gwasanaeth y gall myfyrwyr ac aelodau ei ddefnyddio ar hyn o bryd yn unig. Byddai colli mynediad i’r cyhoedd ar gyfer y casgliadau hyn ar alw heibio yn groes i ysbryd polisïau Cenhadaeth Ddinesig ac Ymgysylltu â’r Cyhoedd Prifysgol Caerdydd.

“…Hoffwn hefyd bwysleisio nad oes unrhyw effaith ar nifer y staff llyfrgell sydd gennym ym Mhrifysgol Caerdydd.”

Rydym yn croesawu’r sicrwydd hwn. Ynghyd â’r brifysgol ehangach, rydym ar hyn o bryd mewn rhewiad cyflogi, gyda swyddi ar agor ar bob gradd nad ydynt wedi’u llenwi’n ôl. Efallai na fydd unrhyw effaith ar niferoedd staff NAWR, ond rydym yn ceisio sicrwydd y bydd rolau’n cael eu llenwi’n ôl i lefelau o O LEIAF Mai 2026.

“Yr hyn yr ydym yn ei wneud yw archwilio’r syniad o gyflwyno mannau astudio a dysgu amlbwrpas ar ein campysau i weld a allant gynyddu’r lle i fyfyrwyr yn sylweddol a gwella’r profiad dysgu a gynigiwn i chi.”

Ar hyn o bryd, yr ASSL yw’r unig adeilad sydd wedi’i neilltuo’n llwyr i fod yn llyfrgell ar y campws. Byddai’r cynigion, fel yr ydym yn eu deall, yn niweidiol i lawr astudio tawel yr ASSL gan y byddent yn arwain at dorri casgliad y llawr uchaf a cholli 160 o leoedd astudio tawel.

“…Byddai hyn yn creu lle hyblyg, wedi’i fodelu ar enghreifftiau o’r prifysgolion gorau yn fyd-eang.”

A allech chi roi gwybod i ni am yr enghreifftiau hyn, e.e. a oes ganddyn nhw lyfrgelloedd canolog pwrpasol eraill?

“Dim ond un lleoliad sy’n cael ei ystyried i gynnal y lle prawf hwn yw’r ASSL, ac nid yw’r lleoliad terfynol wedi’i gytuno…”

Unwaith eto, hoffem nodi bod y cynlluniau hyn wedi’u cyflwyno fel rhai digon cyflawn i uwch reolwyr ULS hysbysu’r holl staff y byddai’r gwaith adeiladu’n dechrau yng nghanol mis Mehefin 2026. 

Os mai dim ond un o nifer o leoliadau sy’n cael eu hystyried yw’r ASSL, hoffem ofyn i UEB pa safleoedd eraill sydd o fewn y cwmpas ar hyn o bryd, ac a ydynt hwythau wedi cael gwybod i ddisgwyl i’r gwaith ddechrau ym mis Mehefin?

“…ond rydyn ni’n gwybod bod yn rhaid iddo fod mewn lleoliad cyfleus i chi.”

Ni fyddai’n gyfleus i’r myfyrwyr a’r cyhoedd sy’n defnyddio’r llawr uchaf ar hyn o bryd i ddod o hyd i lyfrau neu i astudio mewn distawrwydd.

“Er y byddai’r lle’n cael ei ddefnyddio ar gyfer addysgu, byddai hefyd yn darparu lle astudio ychwanegol o ansawdd uchel.”

Ein dealltwriaeth bresennol yw y byddai’r gwaith adnewyddu hyn yn disodli 160 o leoedd astudio tawel llawn amser gyda lleoedd astudio a fyddai ar gael y tu allan i oriau addysgu yn unig. Hoffem ddeall sut y gellir disgwyl i ni gynnal yr ardal fel parth astudio tawel gyda symudiadau myfyrwyr ar ddechrau a diwedd darlithoedd.

Yr ASSL yw’r unig adeilad ar y campws lle gall myfyrwyr fynd i fod i ffwrdd o aparatws y Brifysgol. Rheswm dros phoblogrwydd y safle  (fe’i gwelir fel rhan eiconig o brofiad Caerdydd) yw nad yw’r Brifysgol yn tresmasu ar y myfyrwyr. Rydym yn deall ac yn cytuno bod angen lleoliad cyfleus, ond nid ASSL yw hynny. Llyfrgell yw ASSL, wedi’i bwriadu ar gyfer llyfrau, ac fel ardal  i fyfyrwyr astudio mewn awyrgylch ymlaciol a thawel. Byddai cael grwpiau mawr o fyfyrwyr yn gadael ar ddiwedd dosbarthiadau yn newid seicoleg yr adeilad cyfan yn llwyr.

“Ers 2020, rydym eisoes wedi darparu 1,000 o leoedd astudio ychwanegol ar y campws i chi, ac rydym wedi ymrwymo i ymateb i’ch galwadau am hyd yn oed mwy o leoedd astudio o ansawdd.”

Hoffem nodi bod casgliadau yn llyfrgelloedd Bute a Trevithick wedi cael ei leihau i ddarparu ar gyfer rhai o’r lleoedd hyn.

“Os byddwn yn bwrw ymlaen â’r cynnig hwn eleni, hoffwn eich sicrhau:

byddwn yn gweithio gyda chi, staff ac Undeb y Myfyrwyr drwy gydol y broses”

Rydym yn croesawu’r syniad o gydweithio (sydd ond wedi cael ei grybwyll nawr, AR ÔL i gynlluniau gael eu cyhoeddi i staff), ond nid ydym wedi mynd ati eto. Gofynnwn i’r prosiect hwn gael ei ohirio nes bod ymgynghoriad tryloyw ac ystyrlon wedi digwydd, a bod cynnig wedi’i gefnogi’n llwyddiannus gan gynrychiolwyr o’r HOLL randdeiliaid allweddol.

“Mae’n debyg y bydd unrhyw waith yn cael ei wneud dros yr haf i leihau’r aflonyddwch. “

Rydym yn croesawu bod Prifysgol Caerdydd i bob golwg wedi ymgysylltu â chontractwyr sydd â digon o dalent i weithio ar adeilad (ac un sydd â statws Gwarchodedig Dros Dro gan CADW o leiaf), lle nad yw cynlluniau wedi’u cwblhau dair wythnos cyn i’r prosiect arfaethedig ddechrau. Rydym yn pryderu y bydd unrhyw waith a wneir dros yr haf yn tarfu ar fyfyrwyr sy’n ceisio defnyddio’r ASSL. Fel y profwyd yn ystod gwaith adnewyddu ar y llawr cyntaf a’r ail lawr yn 2024, bydd problemau sŵn a lle i unrhyw un sy’n defnyddio’r adeilad, ac mae’n debygol iawn y bydd y casgliad ar yr ail lawr yn anhygyrch i fyfyrwyr a’r cyhoedd.

I gloi, er ein bod yn falch bod y brifysgol wedi ymateb, rydym yn gwrthod y rhannau o’r datganiad sy’n awgrymu ein bod wedi gor-ymateb, neu wedi gorliwio’r bygythiad i’n ASSL annwyl. Er ein bod yn croesawu ymgysylltiad, rydym yn dal i aros am hyn, ac yn credu y gallai Bwrdd Gweithredol y Brifysgol fod wedi gwneud hyn yn gynharach, yn unol â gwerthoedd datganedig y Brifysgol ei hun.

Mae dros 8000 o bobl wedi llofnodi’r ddeiseb, sy’n dangos yr angerdd dros yr ASSL a nodir uchod. Gobeithiwn y gall y Bwrdd Gweithredol ddeall y lle arbennig sydd gan yr ASSL a’i gasgliadau yng nghalonnau myfyrwyr, staff, cyn-fyfyrwyr, a’r cyhoedd ehangach, a’i adael fel safle lle gellir ffurfio atgofion prifysgol craidd am flynyddoedd lawer i ddod. Er gwaethaf yr hyn y mae unrhyw felin drafod yn ei gyhoeddi nid oes technoleg well na llyfrau, ac ni fydd byth.

Mae gan bawb sy’n gweithio yn y Brifysgol, o staff y llyfrgell i’r Bwrdd Gweithredol fuddiannau gorau’r myfyrwyr wrth wraidd, ond credwn fod y cynlluniau hyn yn gamarweiniol a bod angen eu gwireddu mewn maes arall i gryfhau addysg a phrofiad prifysgol ein myfyrwyr gwych yn wirioneddol.