State-of-the-art Central Coast library opens its doors
The University of Newcastle’s Central Coast campus is celebrating the start of the 2012 academic year by throwing open the doors of its $3.2 million library redevelopment today.
The project is the final stage of a two-year $20 million expansion of the Central Coast campus and will provide additional study and learning facilities to service the growing student population on the Central Coast. Over the past five years university enrolments on the Central Coast have increased by 40 per cent to 4,300 in 2011.
Vice-Chancellor, Professor Caroline McMillen, said the major expansion and upgrade of library services would deliver significant benefits to the Central Coast campus community.
“The investment in this project recognises the library’s central role in supporting the academic endeavour of the university.
“The library expansion will help meet student demand for more learning and meeting spaces, including a 24-hour information common for students,” Professor McMillen said.
Other features of the library extension include:
• Five new group study rooms with access to computers and screens
• Eighty-eight additional computers, printers and scanning facilities, and wireless and power connections for laptops and other devices
• A new service desk offering 24-hour support from library staff, and the student ‘Rover’ service that provides peer-assisted library and basic IT support
• A café, lounge, parents’ room and outdoor meeting spaces
University of Newcastle Pro Vice-Chancellor Central Coast, Professor Stephen Crump, said the university was firmly committed to providing state-of-the-art education facilities for the booming Central Coast region.
“Visits to the Central Coast library have doubled in the past five years. This substantial upgrade to our library will provide students, staff and the community with the most innovative learning hubs on the coast.”
The library extension follows the opening of the Exercise, Sports Science and Psychology building and the Education and Nursing building in November 2011.
The library upgrade was supported by the Australian Government’s Better Universities Renewal Fund and the university.
The library extension will be opened on Wednesday 22 February at 10am at the University of Newcastle Central Coast campus, 10 Chittaway Rd Ourimbah. Media welcome.
For interviews: Contact Carmen Swadling, Media and Public Relations Officer on 02 4985 4276 or 0428 038477.