OCR Text |
Show Medical library to gain funds By Kathy Buffmire Staff Writer a new medical library to be Sff SffSU -tan, VMnesday stated, the money is Eg made available under terms ' the Medical Library Assistance t The grant will be partially Ttched by funds raised by the 2? Center. Sen. Moss said that it was his understanding that no state funds would be required or the project. Federal money wiU provide 73.3 per cent of the total cost. Sen Moss said the library was omitted from the original construction which was completed in 1965 because of limited amounts of funds then available. The present library is housed in a small basement room intended for mechanical equipment at the Medical Center. The new building will be located between the Main Medical Center Building and the College of Nursing Building, here on the University campus, and contain 35,000 square feet. The library currently contains in it's crowded area over 73,000 books, monographs and bound journals, including several hundred rare books in the history of medicine collection. The library presently serves 18,000 students, faculty and research personel of the College of Medicine, Nursing and Pharmacy, as well as housing staff and professional nursing staff. The number is expected to double in the next 10 years. Mrs. Priscilla Mayden, University medical sciences tibrarian, stated, "The project is ready to go now." The whole thing is so exciting for us," she continued, "considering that the funds appropriated were the last left for Medical Libraries appropriations which has not been refunded since 1967. Also the realization that we were competing with 14 other universities and medical centers across the nation seem to worsen the plight." "Part of the reason we received the funds," she explained "is that we have the distinction of having the worst facilities of any major medical libraries." Mrs. Mayden ended on a note that the students and entire library patrons have been enthusiastic about the construction and the improvement of facilities. The library plans have been turned over to Architects Edwards and Daniels and Associates and has been estimated that construction will begin in approximately six months. |