Malaspina Library to Double in Size<br>$10m. expansion to give students “room to learn”

Plans were unveiled today for a major rebuilding of the Library at Malaspina University-College that will double the space and services for students.

Under the plan, the Library building will double in size, to 58,577 square feet, and adding another floor. The collection of books will jump from 160,000 to 230,000, and the number of seats and study spaces for students will more than double, from 310 seats to 677.

There will also be new reading lounges, a video room, an archive and a special collections room. The Malaspina Bookstore will also expand into the new building, together with a coffee lounge, writing center and faculty center.
A highlight of the building will be the creation of The Institute for Coastal Research, which will combine many of the university-college’s faculties and research initiatives.

New technology will be incorporated into all areas of the new building, including wireless computing through portable lap-tops, which students will be able to sign out and work on anywhere in the building.

The project will cost $10 million, of which $1.75 million will be raised through a fundraising campaign by the Malaspina University-College Foundation. Just over $800,000 has already been raised.

“We are essentially creating a new Library,” said Rich Johnston, President of Malaspina University-College. “When we are done this will be a one of the most technologically advanced and most student-friendly learning centers in the country.

“Our main goal with this expansion is to give students access to the best technology, a full range of reference works for all our programs, and a spacious and inspiring environment in which to work and learn.”
Construction is slated to begin in the Spring of 2003, and be completed by September 2004.