Spacefinder is a tool which allows students to find study spaces around a University Campus by identifying them on a map, listing them, and providing search and filtering tools to allow students to:
list spaces which are currently open
identify the spaces which are nearest to their current location
list spaces which have certain characteristics (noise levels, availability of equipment, etc.)
History
Spacefinder was originally developed by the University of Cambridge in 2015 as part of the futurelib innovation programme, which explored the future role of academic libraries within the University.
This site contains a rewrite of the code in the Cambridge application’s UI to make a single page application fed by JSON files which load data for all spaces (instead of loading them from a Rails API). The project was initiated by the University of Leeds library to explore the possibility of using the Cambridge app in Leeds, but adoption of the full Rails stack was not possible at the time.
This website is run by the University of Leeds. We want as many people as possible to be able to use this website. For example, that means you should be able to:
change colours, contrast levels and fonts
zoom in up to 300% without the text spilling off the screen
navigate most of the website using just a keyboard
navigate most of the website using speech recognition software
listen to most of the website using a screen reader (including the most recent versions of JAWS, NVDA and VoiceOver)
We’ve also made the website text as simple as possible to understand. AbilityNet has advice on making your device easier to use if you have a disability.
How accessible this website is
We know some parts of this website are not fully accessible:
this site uses interactive maps, which assistive technologies may not be able to navigate
Feedback and contact information
If you need information on this website in a different format like accessible PDF, large print, easy read, audio recording or braille, please contact IT Services:
Reporting accessibility problems with this website
We’re always looking to improve the accessibility of this website. If you find any problems not listed on this page or think we’re not meeting accessibility requirements, contact the University Library.
Enforcement procedure
The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) is responsible for enforcing the Public Sector Bodies (Websites and Mobile Applications) (No. 2) Accessibility Regulations 2018 (the ‘accessibility regulations’). If you’re not happy with how we respond to your complaint, contact the Equality Advisory and Support Service (EASS).
Technical information about this website’s accessibility
This website is partially compliant with the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines version 2.1 AA standard, due to the non-compliances listed below.
This site includes interactive maps, and while maps are exempt from the scope of the regulations, every attempt has been made to make the maps accessible to assistive technologies. However, there remain some features within the map which may be difficult to use.
This statement was prepared on 25th March 2022. It was last updated on 4th October 2022.
Privacy & Cookies
Privacy and cookies statement for Spacefinder
Privacy notice for https://spacefinder.leeds.ac.uk
This privacy notice has been updated in line with the General Data Protection Regulation.
Purpose of this Notice
This Notice tells you how the University of Leeds (University) will collect and use your personal data when you access this website. The University is a “controller” of this personal data for the purposes of the data protection legislation.
Note that additional information will be provided where you are requested to enter personal information and this will vary between our various websites
It is important that you read this Notice together with any other privacy notice we provide on specific occasions when we are collecting or processing personal data about you so that you are fully aware of how and why we are using your data. This Notice supplements the other notices and is not intended to override them.
Changes to this Notice
We keep the information provided in this Notice under review. This Notice may be updated from time to time. If we make any substantial updates, we will draw these to your attention.
We will not use your personal data in any manner that is incompatible with the purpose for which the data were collected originally, unless we have obtained your consent to that additional use.
Anything you are not clear about
If there is anything you are unclear about, please contact our Data Protection Officer, who shall be happy to answer any queries you may have concerning this Notice or the way in which we process your personal data.
The Data Protection Officer’s contact details are provided at the end of this Notice.
Purpose of processing your data
Where we request personal data from you on our website you will be informed at that time of the purpose for which the data will be processed and how it will be processed, its legal basis for processing as well as any transfers to third parties.
Purpose of processing – automated collection of personal information
When you access our web pages certain information your browser provides, including your IP address at the time, browser type, and potentially the address of the page you last visited, will be automatically recorded by the University. This data may be used to aid detection in the event of a security breach. The legal basis for this processing is necessity to pursue our legitimate interests to keep our website secure. The University retains this data in a form from which you may be identifiable for a period of up to two months.
Third-party access
Your personal data that you have provided will not routinely be sent to third parties (unless notified – see above).
Data retention
The University’s policies on retaining data for prospective and current students, staff and job applicants are detailed in our data retention policy.
In other cases, for example, if you subscribe to news or events, any retention of data will be made clear at the point of collection.
Cookies
Cookies are small text files that are placed on your device by websites that you visit.
We use cookies for the following purposes:
To save your cookie preferences between visits (essential)
To increase the performance of the site between visits (performance)
To track how our website is used and help us make improvements (analytics)
Performance and analytics cookies
These cookies help our website function
Cookie name
spaces
Cookie description
Space data
Cookie Purpose
The data used in this application is initially downloaded in a single file - the data can be stored in the browser's localStorage, a type of cookie which remains in the browser between sessions. The data held here expires after 7 days.
These cookies are used to collect information about how visitors use our website. We use the information to compile reports and to help us improve the site. These cookies are also used to track users’ interests and then provide targeted advertising on other websites. The cookies collect information in an anonymous form, including the number of visitors to the site, where visitors have come to the site from and the pages they visited.
If you share content from our website through other websites, for example Facebook or Twitter, cookies or a form of tracking may be used by these services and you need to manage your privacy via your account (and not through our site).
You can manage your privacy settings, including cookies, through your browser settings.
It is important that the personal data the University holds about you is accurate and current. Please keep us informed if the personal data you have provided to us needs to be updated.
Your rights as a data subject
Under the GDPR, in certain circumstances, you have the right to:
withdraw your consent to our processing of your personal data where that is the legal basis for such processing
access any of your personal data which we hold
have your personal data which we hold corrected if it is inaccurate
have any of your personal data which we hold erased
restrict the ways in which we process your personal data
object to our processing of your personal data
receive a copy of any of your personal data which we hold in a structured and commonly used machine-readable format
in certain cases not be subject to a decision based solely on automated decision making
lodge a complaint with a supervisory authority
Queries and complaints
If you have any queries or concerns relating to this privacy notice or the way your data is being processed through this website then please contact the University’s Data Protection Officer, David Wardle on d.wardle@adm.leeds.ac.uk or by post to University of Leeds, 11.72 EC Stoner Building, Leeds LS2 9JT, UK.
The University’s main telephone number is +44 (0) 113 2431751.
The UK’s regulator for the DPA and GDPR is the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO). The University is registered as a Data Controller with the ICO
Should you be dissatisfied with our handling of your concerns you have the right to complain to a supervisory authority. In the case of the UK this is the Information Commissioner’s Office and details can be found at https://ico.org.uk/make-a-complaint/.