We are in the midst of an earthquake retrofit that will enhance the safety and security of the Eccles Health Sciences Library. EHSL will continue to serve as a resilient hub for learning and collaboration throughout this intensive construction. This peace of mind is paramount in preserving the uninterrupted pursuit of knowledge. Once the seismic retrofit is complete, we plan to reinvigorate the Eccles Health Sciences Library with a full renovation.
Technology has revolutionized the way academic community seeks information, acquires knowledge, collaborate, and engage in scholarly pursuits. We are envisioning multifaceted spaces within the Eccles Health Sciences Library, meticulously designed to cater to the diverse needs of our faculty, students, researchers, and clinicians.
These thoughtfully planned spaces will encompass areas for focused, individual study, collaborative workspaces that foster teamwork and innovation, and zones where social interaction can flourish. Among the notable enhancements is the expansion of the History of Health Sciences room, an initiative aimed at bolstering our capacity to collect, safeguard, and grant access to the University of Utah’s invaluable contributions to fields such as medicine, pharmacy, nursing, dentistry, and health.
Thinking ahead, we aim to integrate a Virtual Reality Studio into our library’s offerings, part of a broader simulation suite connecting the Spencer Fox Eccles School of Medicine and the College of Nursing. This studio will play an integral role in the health sciences curriculum across all academic programs.
The enduring mission of libraries, including the Eccles Health Sciences Library, is to gather, categorize, protect, and facilitate access to knowledge. They have long served as indispensable hubs of information and expertise, adapting to evolving content formats and the ever-changing needs of their users.
However, libraries like ours face the challenge of antiquated infrastructure. Constructed in the 1970s to accommodate primarily print collections and echoing architectural styles of its era, our library no longer harmonizes with contemporary methods of study, learning, and research.
A pivotal role of our library is to offer immediate assistance from knowledgeable professionals. It stands as the sole service desk on our campus, fielding a wide array of queries, from room locations to evidence-based medical research. A redesigned space is imperative, one that offers silent study areas and collaborative spaces. Faculty and clinicians also necessitate designated areas for case reviews, course preparation, and organizing evidence.
With an annual influx of over 150,000 visitors, our library must cater to a diverse spectrum of needs. It is an institution of equal access, leveling the academic playing field for students, faculty, researchers, and clinicians alike.
Through renovations that incorporate innovative technology, modern design principles, and flexible spaces, EHSL will become an even more inviting hub for vital academic work and the preservation of educational treasures. Ultimately, a rejuvenated library will serve as a testament to the University of Utah’s unwavering commitment to excellence, equipping the health sciences community with the resources needed to flourish in their endeavors.
