Otago Polytechnic chief executive Phil Ker says he "may have misread the sentiments of staff" over the University of Otago's decision to change the name of the Bill Robertson Library.
The library, in Union St, was owned 50-50 by the polytechnic and the Dunedin College of Education (which has since merged with the university) and named after Mr Robertson, a former head of the polytechnic's school of engineering before he joined the college of education staff.
The polytechnic swapped its stake in the library some years ago in return for a university contribution to the polytechnic's new Manaaki student centre in Harbour Tce.
Late last year, the university spent $10 million upgrading and expanding the library and decided to drop "Bill", from its title, in favour of the Robertson Library.
Polytechnic deputy chief executive Dr Robin Day said some staff were unhappy about that and believed the change had been made without consultation.
However, Mr Ker said University of Otago university vice-chancellor Prof Sir David Skegg had telephoned him about November asking him his view on the proposal.
The change "did not seem to feature as something which would trigger spending time and energy on", Mr Ker said, although he acknowledged he "may have misread the sentiments of staff".
The polytechnic pays a fee for its students to use the library.
As a user of services, council chairwoman Kathy Grant said she did not feel the polytechnic should protest the university's decision.
