TFDL

July 21, 2009

Industry minister tours campus construction

Federal Industry Minister Tony Clement visited the Taylor Family Digital Library site and other projects on Tuesday

The U of C's new Taylor Family Digital Library facility is a perfect example of how Canada is becoming a world leader in the "digital economy," according to Canada's Minister of Industry Tony Clement.

Vice-Provost (Libraries & Cultural Resources) Tom Hickerson (right) outlines the high-tech future of the Taylor Family Digital Library for Industry Minister Tony Clement.
/ Photo: Meghan Sired

"This facility will be a very important space for the public, students and researchers and will be an important part of realizing my goal of making Canada the number one digital economy in the world," Clement said Tuesday.

Clement toured several new infrastructure projects with President Harvey Weingarten as part of a visit to Calgary, to learn more about the projects that recently received federal funding under the Government of Canada's Knowledge Infrastructure Program. On May 15, Environment Minister Jim Prentice and Calgary Montrose MLA Manmeet Bhullar announced $113-million for technology to outfit the digital library and for the U of C's plans to upgrade its ageing Heating & Cooling Plant to a more efficient cogeneration facility.

Clement was shown the sites that will be occupied by the Learning Commons, museum gallery and high-tech Centre for Collaborative Data in the Taylor Family Digital Library when it opens next year.

"The Taylor Family Digital Library is an excellent example of how infrastructure links directly to a student’s experience on campus," President Weingarten said. "When this building is completed next year, it will house state-of-the-art teaching, learning and research tools. We picture this building as a hub for our students, staff and faculty – a place where they can meet to discuss ideas in person or by video conference, access information from around the world online, and tackle tough questions by using the latest research tools such as 3D visualization, interactive Smart boards and high-powered computer technology."