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Show -~~ - - -- - -- - - - THE t 87TH YEAR; NUMBER 34 THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 1993 New Library scheduled for completion in 1995 BY MICHEU.E CLEGG Thunderbird St.a.ff WriteT Many would agree that SUU is in desperate need of a new library. To fulfill this need, a larger and more efficient library will be built in 1995 to better accommodate the growing population of the university. Louis Ulrich of the 6.rm FFKR, who designed the Centtum, the Randall Theatre and the renovation of the old student c.enter to the Hunter Center, is currently at work on plans for the facility to be built where Oak Hall now stands. The library now in use lacks resources. According to Library Director Diana Graff the library currently houses only 4,000 books. Many srudents may find that crucial periodicals and texts are not available except by transfer from another library. This usually takes weeks and is inconvenient to students. The new library will house approximately 200,000 volumes. The increase in volumes will give a wider selection of research material in shorter time, making research more convenient for students. The current Library is also too small, Graff said. To accommodate the need for more space, a 70,00Q..square foot building will replace the old library. The current Library holds only about 230 students. When completed, the new Library building will combine convenience with beauty and style. Many study carrels will be installed in a unique round room surrounded by glass on all sides, including a sky light. This will enable students to enjoy the natural beauty of nature while they study. The completed building will stand three stories tall. Another unique feature of the Library will be patron self checkout. This enables students in good standing-those with no fines or overdue books-to just insert their card into a machine instead of standing in the checkout line. MNinetyfive percent of SUU students are in good standing so this feature will be really convenient for them," Graff said. However, there is a price to pay for such beauty and convenience. In fuct, the new Library carries a $10 million price tag. "Currently we.have $3 million already appropriated from the Utah State legislature. We're requesting the remaining $7 million from the 1993 Legislature," Graff said.· That Legislature is no~ in session so it is still unclear whether or not building will take place as scheduled. "It will probably take about 18 months to tw0 years to complete, so the expected completion date is around spring or summer of 1995 depending on whether or not the funds are appropriated," said Graff. Building a new library is just one step SUU is taking to better the value of education, aa:ording to Graff. By providing updated and efficient resources to students the library will hdp the university compete with larger schools, she said. |