Know the Knowledge Center
Photo by Daniel Clark/Nevada Sagebrush
When students come back to school next fall, they will have a new building to retrieve books and knowledge.
The Matthewson-IGT Knowledge Center will open Aug. 11, and is more than a traditional library, Steven Zink, dean of university libraries, said.
Zink said the Knowledge Center differs from a library in that a knowledge center offers more technology and information.
“Libraries started when there was a scarcity of information,” Zink said. “Now information isn’t scarce.”
The four story, 300,000 square foot building is double the size of Getchell Library and offers a lot of space for students.
The first floor
The first floor is the technology center. Nicknamed “@ One” because it’s a convenient meeting spot, this floor offers a vast amount of computers and workspace. Most of the furniture is movable in order to accommodate students working in group projects. Lockers and movable white boards will be available for students to use.
“@ One” is a group study area intended to be the social center of the building.
The second floor
The second floor is the main entrance to the building. It consists of a large atrium that can be seen through all floors of the building. A reference desk and a circulation desk are on this floor. Students will be able to use the reference desk for help with computer and technology questions in addition tootherl questions.
The atrium is an open area that leads off to all other parts of the building.
The reference and computer help center will be centralized in one area.
The third and fourth floors
The third and fourth floors are mainly for book storage and study rooms. The way students retrieve books is different from Getchell. Students can enter the book they want through a computer and a large mechanical hand will find the book according to its bar code, pick it up from a three-story shelf and deliver it to the circulation desk. The process takes approximately 10 minutes.
The large book-retrieving robot has been dubbed MARS by its creators. It will house older books that are not used as much and will not replace the stacks entirely.
Getchell Library
Zink said the future of Getchell is still unclear, but he hopes to see it turn into office and classroom space.Refreshments
Jolt ‘n’ Java is not moving to the Knwledge Center however, Bytes Coffee will take its place.Mathewson-IGT Knowledge Center hours
- Monday-Thursday: 7:30 a.m. to midnight
- Friday: 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.
- Saturday: 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
- Sunday: 10 a.m. to midnight
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on Tuesday, May 6th, 2008 at 1:59 am and is filed under News, Student Life, The Guide.
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