Minister launches library of the future
Published on 07 June, 2012
Federal Minister for Tertiary Education, Skills, Science and Research Senator Chris Evans emphasised that libraries are no longer what they used to be, as he officially opened the newly refurbished CQUniversity Rockhampton Campus library this week...
Senator Evans acknowledged that methods being used in learning and teaching are rapidly changing, and the way in which institutions allow students to access information needs to keep up.
"Universities and libraries need to reflect change. They are very different places to what they once were, and we need them to adapt to the way young people learn" he said.
The event was attended by more than 100 CQUniversity staff and students, as well as local member for Capricornia Kirsten Livermore MP and CQUniversity Chancellor Rennie Fritschy, who were all keen to see only the second major upgrade to the library in 34 years.
Computer technology is a dominant feature of the new library, from the Google-style library search interface, to the high-speed access terminals, to the real time video technology that brings CQUniversity's disparate campuses closer together.
"Projects like these are essential to delivering opportunities to Central Queenslanders. Rural university attendance rates are only half of those in the cities" Senator Evans said.
The $7.4 million project is just one of many initiatives to comprise the Commonwealth Government's committed investment into higher education - money well spent according to fourth year Civil Engineering student Mitchell Lees.
Mitchell believes the new facilities available at the library will vastly improve the study experience for all CQUniversity students, particularly those undertaking tasks requiring team work and collaboration.
"Having more space to participate in group work where you don't have to be as conscious of noise is really helpful, particularly for Engineering students and the projects we do. All the facilities have been updated, particularly on the technology side of things, and it's made for a really good learning environment" he said.
"I think students who don't normally use the library are going to find themselves in there more often."
This view was shared by mature age student Geraldine Carter, who stated the library was her 'second home' since starting her Bachelor of Psychology in February this year. Geraldine is studying with CQUniversity after gaining her teaching degree with the Australian National University nearly three decades ago and says this time around the experience is much easier, much more convenient, and much more fun.
"The new technologies are absolutely fantastic. With so many new ways to search for information, I sometimes get off track, but I end up finding out more about what I'm researching than I thought I would. It makes it kind of exciting" she said.
