Collections and Connections: Creating a Library of the 21st Century

A message from Consortium Library Dean Stephen J. Rollins

Program Needs:

The existing Consortium Library fails to meet national library building standards. Shelving space for collections and archives is nearly exhausted. The library's instructional facility and information technology infrastructure must be upgraded. There is limited group study space, meeting space, and workspace. Accommodations for general seating are far below current standards. Mechanical and electrical systems are in need of substantial upgrading. There is no proper facility for preserving or displaying materials unique to Alaska. Visitor parking is perceived as inadequate and inconvenient.

Project Goal:

To advance academic excellence, UAA is building a Library of the 21st Century. The new facility will combine the virtual with the physical. The goal is to construct a facility that is not only a depository for books, journals, and documents but also a place for discovery and a home for historical records. The new facility will be a hub for electronic library resources, web connections, and a center for creating digital content. The new facility will support on-campus, community-based, and distributed learning programs. It will be a place for people, for instruction, and for preserving information in all formats. It will be a place for collections and connections.

Highlights:

• The facility is designed to serve as a signature building on the campus, taking advantage of natural light and mountain views.
• The 85,000 square feet in the existing building will be modestly renovated and remodeled.
• A new three-story addition of 109,000 square feet will be built.
• The project includes construction of a parking structure and a pedestrian bridge to connect CAS and the library with the campus "spine".
• The total project budget is $43,500,000.
• The existing information technology infrastructure will be upgraded and expanded to provide access to the entire range of electronic and non-book resources accessible from the Internet, digital libraries, and virtual museums.
• The library's facilities for instruction, research and study will be significantly improved.
• Space will be available to house historical materials preserving Alaska's legacy.
• A music listening room is included in the renovation.
• Space is included for the Center for Advancing Faculty Excellence. (CAFE)
• Refrigerated vaults for proper storage of film and video will be installed onsite.
• The building is designed to house an expanding print and non-print collection to support a growth in enrollment and academic programs.
• The facility is designed to provide a high level of safety and security for both users and staff and to safeguard the valuable collections of the library.
• A Foucault pendulum will be installed in the center of the main staircase.

Partnerships:

The library building program offers the opportunity to expand services by developing our partnerships. The following organizations will be moving into the new facility.

• Alaska Resources Library and Information Services (ARLIS) www.arlis.org
• Alaska Moving Image Preservation Association (AMIPA) www.amipa.org