West Bohemian University will expand its library for 156 million

Plzeň - Group and individual study rooms, an expanded open selection, a new archive, and a small café will be the main novelties of the University of West Bohemia (ZČU) library, which will double in size starting from October 2013. The construction, costing 156 million CZK, will include the new wing as well as the renovation of the existing building, and will begin this semester after the completion of the tender process, said library director Miloslava Faitová to ČTK.
     "Currently, the capacity is sufficient, but as construction continues on campus, we are expecting an increase in the number of students," she stated. A new Institute of Art and Design is being completed, new research centers are emerging, and faculty offices will relocate to Bory from the city center.
     Modern library, modeled after similar institutions in Western Europe and the USA, will significantly expand the open selection, thereby increasing the number of study places. Five individual and five group study rooms will be newly created, related to a new trend in education where students work in teams of five to ten on joint projects. "Currently, they must sit at one table, often disturbing others and lacking technical support," Faitová said. The study rooms will be equipped with computers, screens, and projectors. A new feature will be self-service borrowing.
     "The project will enhance the quality of teaching, support teamwork among students, and prepare them for scientific research activities as well as collaboration with the industrial sector and partner organizations," said ZČU spokesperson Kamila Kvapilová. It will provide better conditions for the activities of emerging research centers and centers of excellence at ZČU, which will be involved in the educational, scientific, and research activities of the university.
     The ground floor of the library will feature a reception area and open space for discussions and relaxation, while the first floor will house a large open selection. A modern archive with technological support will be created in the basement. It will have 3,800 linear meters of shelves, which is more than double the current state.
     Another 60 million CZK will go towards modernizing the infrastructure of library services to ensure they are maximally accessible and reliable. The reconstruction of central server rooms, security systems, and diesel generator backup power will be crucial. A high-capacity and reliable data storage facility has already been established. ZČU will receive nearly 190 million CZK from the Operational Program Research and Development for Innovation for two projects of expanding information support for research and development, costing 219 million CZK.
     The library currently owns over 300,000 printed publications across all its facilities. ZČU annually allocates 6.5 million CZK for acquisitions.