U of C gets $97.1M for digital library, infrastructure

The province is investing $97.1 million to complete a digital library and upgrade buildings at the University of Calgary.

The premier and education minister announced the money Tuesday:

• $42.5 million to upgrade the Health Sciences Centre's mechanical and ventilation systems.
• $17.1 million to replace, repair and upgrade the roofs of several buildings, including Engineering Block A and D, Education Block and Education Tower, Kinesiology A, Science B and Craigie Hall.

More than one-third will go to Taylor Family Digital project to match a donation of $25 million made by Calgary's Ron and Ruth Taylor. A library storage complex, expected to open in 2010, will integrate the university's art holdings, rare books and special collections with the Nickle Arts Museum, said the province.

The project will also support the new Lois Hole Campus Alberta Digital Library, said the province.

The digital library, named after the former lieutenant governor of Alberta, aims to link post-secondary students, teachers and researchers across the province to digital journal and book collections and electronic databases.

Tuesday's $37.5 million is in addition to a previous provincial announcement of $113 million.

"The additional funding will further serve to renew our campus and ensure that our facilities are modern and able to support high-quality teaching, learning and research," said Harvey Weingarten, president of U of C.

The province has scheduled another funding announcement for the University of Alberta Wednesday in Edmonton.

The government is expected to call an election early next month.