Many of you may not be aware of the fact that the University has made the decision to close the bindery. As postgraduate students, you will inevitably have thesis to bind. Unfortunately, because the University has decided (without consulting the affected parties, i.e. postgrad students) to close this essential service, in the future all postgrad binding requirements will be sent to a commercial company in Falkirk. Currently the University bindery charges 23gbp per copy of thesis bound, and the work is completed to an extremely high standard and within 4working days. Having spoken to the bindery staff, they have informed me that binding at the commercial company will and can take up to 4 WEEKS. Each copy will cost approx 35gbp. 12pds more per copy might not seem a great deal, but when you consider that you will have run out of funding months ago (!) and require 5 copies (2 supervisor, 1 personal, 2 uni. submissions), the EXTRA cost to already financially stretched postgrad students will be 60pds, and a lot of extra waiting time. This is a lot of extra pressure on students who are already in an extremely stressful time. I am also astounded that the University is willing to contract out a service which was excellently run (the bindery, when fully functional, was bringing in a profit of 100,000pds), convenient and ideally suited for the thousands of postgrad students who pass through the University over the years, without even consulting these very same students. Considering the vast population, not to mention income, that postgrad. students bringing to the University, it is abhorrent that the University shows no respect for the needs of the postgrad. student, especially at their most challenging time. So please, if you feel that this is an issue worth pursuing, I have set up an e-petition which I would be grateful if you could sign, whether you have ever, or never, used the bindery or met the great people there. If you don't believe me, ask a recently completed PhD student!