UVSC's target: a digital library

OREM — The next chapter in Utah Valley State College's storied history may be a new kind of library.

UVSC President William Sederburg seeks to update the college's library via technology.

The new UVSC library would be called the Digital Learning Center, he said, because of the need to "integrate technology and digital information."

The library would cater to the new kind of student called the "Millennial."

These kind of students grew up with computers and say that the Internet is better than TV. These characteristics drive the need for a digital learning center, Sederburg said.

The Digital Learning Center is No. 3 on the Utah State Higher Education priority list. The first priority for the 2004-05 year was the Weber State University renovation.

The irregular-shaped building was built in 1992 to support 8,800 students.

UVSC has tripled since then, but neither the library nor its collection has gotten any bigger to accommodate the enrollment growth.

The college's library would need to be about 1,200,000 square feet and contain 185,000 books to meet the state standards, according to school officials.

If UVSC's student body crammed into the library, each would only have about 2 feet of space. And if the number of books were divided among the students, each would only have 10 books.

The expansion for the new library will not emphasize increasing the number of books.

UVSC doesn't need a massive amount of books because its neighboring institution, LDS Church-owned Brigham Young University, already has a 6 million-book collection and gives UVSC students access to them.

UVSC did not aggressively push the new library this year because Sederburg felt the "chances were not good" since UVSC received funding for other building projects in the last five years and because of the cost of the building.

UVSC is requesting $32,500,000 in state funding.

"We plan to aggressively seek private support for the Digital Learning Center and to work with the candidates for governor and key legislators to educate them about the needs at UVSC," Sederburg said. "Our big push will be next legislative session."

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