Library on the books; Nipissing, Canadore students thrilled about planned learning centre. News of an $18-million investment toward a new library at Nipissing University and Canadore College spread like wildfire.
A few minutes after Minister of Training, Colleges and Universities John Milloy and Revenue Minister Monique Smith made the announcement at the Education Centre Wednesday morning, students inside the library and those walking down the hallways were already talking about the new E-Learning Resource Centre.
Nipissing University students Melanie Wood and Kayla Vibe heard the announcement and went into the library to get a sneak peek at the construction plans. The designs received a thumbs up from students who commented on the open concept and three-storey building.
"I think getting a new library is the most important thing because if we can't get the information we need, we can't get good marks," said Wood, who is enrolled in the first-year concurrent bachelor of education program.
"This is such a small library compared to other universities and there are so many resources we don't have. I fill out inter-library loan requests every couple of months because the books I need are at other universities."
Vibe said the library is where students do all their research, so it makes sense that it's the institution's top priority.
"I remember when I first walked into the library and immediately noticed how small it was," Vibe said. "There's also not nearly enough computers and the ones they do have are always full. I find myself going home to do computer work."
Several Nipissing and Canadore students joined the crowd of faculty, dignitaries and local media who formed a horseshoe around a podium where Milloy and Smith were speaking.
Jodi Fife said she is disappointed she won't be at Canadore when the new building opens.
The tender is expected to go out by the end of this year and shovels should be in the ground by 2009. Work should be completed 18 months later, creating 180 temporary construction jobs.
The funding for the project is part of a $1.4-billion investment in strategic infrastructure announced in the province's fall economic statement. It also comes on the heels of Tuesday's $2.5-million announcement to improve energy efficiency, campus security and infrastructure renewal projects at Nipissing and Canadore.
Fife, a 19-year-old law clerk student, said when there's not enough room in the library to do group work, students have to use the cafeteria.
"It's just too loud in there," she said.
Milloy took a tour of the library and agreed there is an immediate need for a new facility.
"The sharing between these two institutions is a wonderful example for the rest of the province, however the size and study space is very much needed."
Smith said Milloy was the seventh minister to tour the library.
"This announcement will seal the deal," she said, adding she doesn't anticipate there being a problem with the community raising the remaining $5 million needed to build the facility.
Canadore president Barbara Taylor said when she heard the news she "burst into tears."
"This space has been outgrown for more than a decade. It's not what college students need. They need more space and more small meeting rooms," she said.
Nipissing University president Dennis Mock said it is a project that has been in the works for months.
"There are a lot of competitive activities and we had to make sure we came up with something they (the government) believed in and wanted to invest in," he said, adding the library is consistently raised as a disappointment during student satisfaction surveys.
"For a college and university of more than 7,000 students we don't have an adequate facility."
A couple pics.
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Now if Dryden will just sell its phone service, we'll be able to get back to unifying the region.
The Mr Print building on Cumberland is all gone, they're taking out the basement and it will be a parking lot by the spring but you'll have to go around the hydro station to get to the bus terminal. Skavs is pretty much cleaned up and will be parking soon, no word on the court house. Parts of the new Shopper's facade are being put on, it looks just like the faceless generic suburban shoppers we see all over town. Hopefully the one at the TBRH site will be original. Nothing new on the proposed shoppers at the site of the Holsum bakery on Algoma. I think that's it.
We'll miss you. One a side note, this is one of the final steps of our amalgamation. The transition from four cities to one is almost complete. 
I just hope the icky water taste from Port Arthur was specific to my last apartment and not the whole lake.. This really isn't a bad thing. We're going to be saving millions.
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