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- Tom's Corner -
Ralph Ellison's novel of the '50's provides an easy description for a UF facility that is “invisible” in its own way. This academic unit is largely overlooked or taken for granted by most though it is used by all. Unlike the various colleges of the UF, it has no alumni, but it is doubtful that there is any student who has not made some use of its resources. Yes, I am describing the University Libraries with a focus on the New Library West that opened earlier this year. It is no understatement to say that the New Library West is not our father's library. While lovely and imposing, the truly striking changes are in its new functions and greatly increased capabilities. Here are a few of the numbers. The advanced compact shelving can hold 1,700,000 volumes in a building that can seat 1,400. In the new facility are 20 group study rooms, 84 graduate studies, 36 faculty studies, a graduate student floor, two multipurpose training rooms and a presentation area. Tripling the space for study seats—which include carrels, tables and booths—has allowed the library to separate noisy, interactive areas from those designed for quiet study. Digital World capability is prominent in this new facility. Laptop check out, 139 general-use computers and wireless internet make access to electronic information and collaboration available throughout the building. To support these conveniences, the Library has strongly upgraded its computing technology. Such a change makes available 24 x 7 the electronic resources of theLibrary—44,000 journal subscriptions, almost 300,000 full text items, and support for more than 3 million searches and 6.4 million downloads from electronic sources, to highlight a few. Such numbers simply dwarf those when I was there in the "old days" of the Sixties. Further electronic capabilities include instant messaging responses to many of the 150,000 questions directed to the reference librarians and a digital media center that boasts a 60 inch LCD screen on which students can test their game designs. Add to this hardware inventory an assortment of high end software of which the following is just a sample—Photoshop CS, Omnipage, Dragon Naturally Speaking, Adobe Production Suite, plus CD and DVD creation software. Oh, don't overlook the digital collections of unique and rare digitized materials of Florida and the world. Take a look at these collections which include oral histories and ephemeral cities (www.uflib.ufl.edu/ufdc/). No, it's not your father’s library; it may not even be yours (although it does sport a Starbucks). It is both a repository for what has passed, a resource for today, and a work in progress as it adapts to meet the need to access a body of information the growth of which seems logarithmic. Now here is the pitch. Because it is "“invisible," the Libraries need our help, which offers a different kind of project for clubs. Viewing parties, scholarships and support for local non-profits are familiar ways to keep Gators in touch with each other. Support for the Libraries offers a means to benefit all current and future Gators. As an example of how this support can work, The Houston Gator Club has established an endowment which funds a reading nook of tables and chairs that is decorated with reproductions of antique maps of Florida. The permanent plaque credits the Club and individual members who have contributed. When I am on campus, I go there and am rewarded to see that it is always in use. For a club project, the New Library West has a variety of options in addition to an endowment. The range of naming opportunities runs from $100 to $10 million, which includes among other things a single chair, a carrel, reading areas, rooms, floors, and the entire building. Check out the website or, for more details, contact Dr. John Ingram. |
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Last revised: 1 May, 2008 |
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Blame it on Harry, that is the President of the Houston Gator Club, Harry Bucalo. Had he asked, my family would have cautioned him against offering me a microphone or a column or any kind of captive audience. Gratefully, from my point of view, Harry did not ask, and I now have the opportunity to pass along my take on the variety of matters regarding our alma mater and the Gator Nation. In the following few paragraphs, I will set the stage for a blatant "pitch" at the conclusion.
