By Vinny Reda
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A $3.5 million campaign in support of the new library expansion was officially launched this week, and announced by President Hitchcock.
"The new library is designed to be a technologically advanced and flexible facility that will increase collaborative teaching and learning and foster new educational partnerships," said the President. "The goal for the facility, when it opens in 1999, must be to fully take on those challenges, and to enhance the University Libraries� current position among the 100 largest research libraries in the nation."
Interim Vice President for Advancement Paul Stec pointed out that the total project cost of the new library project is approximately $30 million, which includes the new building to the south of the Campus Center and $1.6 million to rehabilitate the current library on the podium. "Construction costs for the new library � about $22 million � as well as about $250,000 for the old library�s rehab, have been covered by state appropriation.
"That still leaves some $6.7 million for equipment, wiring, and setting up new electronic classrooms in the new library, and $1.35 million for the rest of the old library�s rehabilitation and redesign," said Stec.
Of the approximately $8 million needed, $4.9 million has been requested from direct state appropriation for equipment, wiring and moving costs. "The appropriation for the new library is part of what is listed in our legislative priorities as one of three amendments we proposed for Governor Pataki�s Executive Budget regarding SUNY Construction Fund projects," said David Gilbert, University director of governmental relations. "Senator Hugh Farley (Class of �58), as an advocate for the campus and chair of the New York State Libraries Committee, is vigorously advocating for these funds."
Of the $3.5 million private goal campaign, about $100,000 has been raised thus far through gifts from the Hannaford Corporation�s charitable foundation and an alumna bequest from Augusta Brown �30. A current strategy includes application for a matching grant from the Kresge Foundation, which awards challenge grants for construction, renovation and major equipment purchases for building projects by tax-exempt institutions that include those of higher education, health care, and public affairs.
Meredith Butler, dean and director of University Libraries, points out that the state, the community, alumni and parents all have a vested interest in supporting the advancement represented by the library expansion.
"The University�s libraries are at the heart of the campus in every way," said Butler. "They provide an innovative research and learning environment that takes full advantage of both print resources and emerging information technologies. New formats and services are constantly being developed, and offered to students, faculty and staff.
"More than one million people come through our doors each year, including many international scholars and community residents. County and state government officials do research here, as well as area business people. The libraries are in use on average 96 hours per week, including evenings and weekends. More than 170 public computer workstations and terminals, 40 printers, six network serves, 12 multimedia workstations with laserdisc and videodisc capabilities, and a fully equipped and networked electronic classroom are all available for use � and free to every Albany student, faculty member, state employee and alum. Community researchers pay just a nominal fee."
The new facility, when completed, will be a five-story, 142,430 net square foot structure that will include a 600,000-volume Science Library on three floors (which will allow decompression of the existing library), facilities for new information-retrieval and instructional technology, the M.E. Grenander Department of Special Collections and Archives, and a preservation and digital imaging laboratory.
"The library expansion will offer faculty and students a powerful environment for transforming the nature of teaching and learning," said Butler. "Its design incorporates advances in computing and telecommunications technologies, particularly as they pertain to research and teaching networks.
"Most important, this new facility will offer opportunities for the creation of electronic teaching/learning environments, and the retrieval and delivery of instruction, information and new knowledge to those who need it, regardless of their location in the state, and build partnerships for the University with the state�s youth, its teachers, and private citizens."
Added President Hitchcock: "The new library building is the first new construction of academic space on the Albany campus in 35 years, so it is a key resource, long overdue for a campus that has been expanding physically and intellectually for generations. Funding is still needed to realize all the opportunities it presents to us, and this campaign therefore represents a major step in the University�s growth and progress."