U of C ‘moving to the next level’ with new digital library
Published in The Calgary Herald on July 22, 2009
When it opens in fall 2010, the University of Calgary's new Taylor Family Digital Library will be the most technologically advanced student library in Canada, marrying traditional resources such as printed books and periodicals with modern media, including digital video, e-books and touch-screen information kiosks.
Touring the unfinished site on Tuesday, federal Industry Minister Tony Clement marvelled at it and all it could offer the next generation of university students.
"Clearly, the University of Calgary is moving to the next level and is ready for the 21st century, not only for its students, but for the brain gain of our country," Clement said.
Once complete, the library will be 265,000 square feet, will stand six storeys, boast 260 kilometres of data cable and, according to U of C head librarian Tom Hickerson, will see daily traffic from 12,000 students and non-students.
"Any citizen will be able to walk in and make use of the resources here, and anyone with an Alberta library card will be able to check out any book in the building or make use of our licensed resources," he said.
The library, which had its ground-breaking in 2006, was supposed to open in 2008 but was delayed by lack of funding and construction workers.
It was made possible by a$25-million donation from Don and Ruth Taylor, as well as$56.8 million from the Government of Canada through its Knowledge Infrastructure Program, a two-year, $2-billion economic stimulus meant to provide support to infrastructure enhancements at the nation's postsecondary institutions.
"This certainly fits into my vision of Canada being the number 1 digital economy in the world," Clement said. "I believe that is part of how we are going to be productive and competitive and innovative in this society in the years and decades ahead."
U of C president Harvey Weingarten said once the library is completed, it will put not only the university, but also Canada on the world map.
"(This library) increases our connection to an increasingly digitized world, and to a knowledge-based digital economy," he said. "This facility was built with our students in mind, to enhance the learning, teaching and research of students, and to help the university do what it is supposed to do as a public institution-- to serve the public, enhance the quality of life and promote socioeconomic prosperity."
Hickerson said a digital library such as this would prove essential to the modern student and citizen, and prove of far greater relevance than a traditional library.
"The circulation rate for books and journals continues to go down, and that's a trend that's not going to change," he said. "And students and scholars don't care how and where the information is available, as long as it is.
"So that's the great thing about digital information--we don't need multiple copies in order for everyone to have a copy."
