| Bata Library home of new Information Commons |
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Association President's Message Honorary Degree for James Orbinski '80 It's not just books anymore: The New Information Commons Helping students deal with stress Bronze Medal for Trent's virtual tour Tim Holland '76 - Working for Change
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From the moment the doors of Bata Library open each morning until they close each night the library's new Information Commons is a buzz of activity. According to Dave Binkley, who heads Trent's Computing Services, there are already daily waiting lists for the 60 plus state-of-the-art computers that form the backbone of the Commons new technical facilities. Improvements to Bata, and the creation of the Information Commons, began last summer as part of a $2.81 million joint information technology initiative between Trent and Sir Sandford Fleming College, made possible through Ontario government SuperBuild funding as well as additional funding from donor sources.
Renovations have transformed the library's main floor, adding rows of computer work stations in an open area, two training rooms, and an expanded Interactive Learning Centre. One of the training rooms contains a Geographic Information Systems (GIS) lab. Technical support staff, once located on the library's lower level, are now situated near students' work stations. An office has also been added for use by Fleming staff and students, while similar Trent facilities are being located across town at Fleming's Sutherland Campus. Anne Parker, who is managing the Trent/Fleming project, says implementation of the network link between the two institutions is being undertaken in a phased approach. "Our immediate goal is to develop a model that will support our existing joint programs. We will use the new Bachelor of Science in Nursing program as a pilot project as we expand our networks to accommodate the information access needs of these shared programs." Trent currently has a number of joint programs with Fleming, including the new nursing program, which will begin this September. Once it is fully complete, the link will provide seamless electronic access to resources for students, staff and faculty from both institutions. In the mean time, network improvements in the Information Commons provide enhanced access to on-line library research. This comes at a time that paper-based resources are increasingly expensive. The library has been able to boost its holdings through site licensing collaboration with other universities, providing users with desktop access to hundreds of electronic journals and indexes. "People from inside and outside Trent are very impressed with the new facilities," says Binkley. "Now we just have to add more machines."  |
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