Visit to Augustine House

The new Library and meeting facility of Canterbury Christ Church University

On November 11th, through the good offices of Rtn Mike Bridgeford, a group of more than 30 Club Members and spouses were invited to visit the gleaming new University facility that stands just outside the City walls on the site of the old Clarkson Insurance building.

We were welcomed by the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Michael Wright, who is an Honorary Member of the Rotary Club of Canterbury. More technical details were given us by Moira Helm, the new Head of the Allied Health Professions Department.

The building complex has 12,000 square metres of floor space, is very 'green' and uses over 250 geothermal piles below its foundations to supply around 20% of its heating requirements.

Click any photograph to enlarge

 The I-zone Information Centre near the Main Entrance

 Prof. Michael Wright, Mike Bridgeford & Moira Helm

Librarian Kate Davies chatting to a Visitor

Students in one of the many Meeting Rooms


We split into several groups and were shepherded around the facilities by Kate Davies and a number of other Library staff members.

Like any modern university the complex is generously provided with computing facilities, including freely-loanable netbook computers for the use of the students. The Library is open until the early hours and in order to minimise staffing the checking-out and returning of books is done using bar-code readers similar to the self-checkout counters that are appearing in supermarkets.

The City is fortunate to have such a fine modern facility in its midst, close to rail and bus stations.