Irving K. Barber Learning Centre

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Introduction

The Irving K. Barber Learning Centre (IKBLC) is a facility dedicated to the intellectual, social, cultural and economic development of British Columbia. By providing and enhancing access to information and culture through the support of learning and research, the IKBLC provides opportunities for future generations to be at the forefront of learning.

Irving K. Barber

Irving. K. Barber came to The University of British Columbia in September of 1945 and graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Forestry degree in 1950. In 1952, he qualified as a Professional Registered Forester, and was involved in the forest industry in for 57 years, working with people at all levels and throughout the province. In 1978, he founded Slocan Forest Products Ltd. and built it into one of the leading lumber producers in North America. Dr. Barber retired as Chairman in February 2002.

Barber's leadership has been recognized throughout his career, including, in 1996, being awarded the Forest Excellence Award in Communications for his involvement in the publication of The Working Forest of British Columbia. In 1997, he was presented with the Ernst and Young Entrepreneur of the Year award, and named the Distinguished Forester of the Year in 1999 by the Registered Professional Foresters Association. Barber was also awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Law degree by the University of Northern British Columbia in May 2002.

As well as being a forester and entrepreneur, Barber is a visionary. His support of projects is focused on BC and improving the quality of life here. He has a strong commitment to support and work with the community to pursue positive growth and development. Barber has been instrumental in the establishment of programs to promote research with the creation of the Barber Enhanced Forestry Laboratory at the University of Northern British Columbia, the Irving K. Barber Diabetes Research Endowment Fund at The University of British Columbia, and the Ike Barber Human Islet Transplant Laboratory at Vancouver Hospital in partnership with The University of British Columbia.

Barber's gift of $20 million is largely responsible for the development and construction of the Learning Centre and the realization of its mission: a facility dedicated to the intellectual, social, cultural and economic development of the people of British Columbia and beyond. Barber and his wife Jean have three children, nine grandchildren, and nine great-grandchildren.

Programs and Services

The IKBLC will be the gateway to UBC's extensive library systems as well as to other library collections around the world. The IKBLC reflects the dedication of its founders and the people of British Columbia to continue to reinvest in the future of the Province by supporting and enhancing the environment for learning. The University of British Columbia and the Province of British Columbia are committed to achieving this Purpose and these Principles and to establishing and maintaining the Learning Centre as a leading facility in the development, provision, and delivery of learning resources and services.

The Irving K. Barber learning Centre will be committed to providing: • A flexible and technologically advanced facility that keeps pace with the evolution in information resources and education in the 21st century and beyond; • Immediate access to the information and other resources required to support research and innovation; • 15 years of growth space for UBC Library's print collection and environmentally suitable space for its collections of rare and special materials; • The facilities and means for people throughout British Columbia to connect and interact with the national and international community in the pursuit of learning; • An interdisciplinary environment dedicated to integrating people, knowledge, and innovation to develop solutions for the challenges of life in the new millennium and beyond. • The Learning Centre will be not only a focal point of education for students and teachers at UBC but will also support lifelong learning by people throughout B.C. and the world. It will enable them to work effectively together in continuing to build a better British Columbia through the sharing of knowledge and experience.

a) BC History Digitization Program In September 2006 the Irving K. Barber Learning Centre at the University of British Columbia announced the BC History Digitization Program. The focus of the program is to promote increased access to British Columbia's historical resources, including providing matching funds to undertake digitization projects that will result in free online access to our unique provincial historical material. The Learning Centre serves as an education centre, library and a conduit of knowledge for lifelong learners. The British Columbia History Digitization Program demonstrates the Learning Centre's dedication to sharing knowledge and supporting education by making local information resources available to people throughout the province and beyond.

b) Robson Reading Series at the Irving K. Barber Learning Centre on UBC's Point Grey campus. The Robson Reading Series has provided stimulating and thought-provoking events for the past 5 years. The UBC Bookstore at Robson Square and UBC Library's Robson Square branch are pleased to offer this "free series to challenge our understanding of Canadian living, and to expose us to fresh ideas from some of the country's finest writers". Through a grant from the Irving K. Barber Learning Centre, a number of these events will also take place on UBC's Point Grey campus. Please see details of upcoming events below.

c) Interlibrary Loans Users throughout British Columbia are benefiting from expanded access to the collections of UBC Library and other libraries, thanks to a range of initiatives from the Irving K. Barber Learning Centre. These developments support the Learning Centre’s mandate to provide lifelong learning opportunities at UBC, throughout the province and beyond. Funding provided by the Irving K. Barber Learning Centre has enabled UBC Library to reduce its interlibrary loan (ILL) fees for all public libraries and most health libraries in B.C. to $5, from a previous range of $7.50 to $12. In addition, another Learning Centre initiative, carried out in collaboration with the British Columbia Electronic Library Network, has resulted in all B.C. post-secondary libraries eliminating interlibrary loan charges for books among their libraries. These steps were implemented following provincial consultations held by the Learning Centre to identify ways of serving citizens across B.C. by extending access to UBC’s vast knowledge base.

d) Multimedia Repository Since 2003, the Irving K. Barber Learning Centre at the University of British Columbia has sponsored live webcasts of lectures and other events held at the University of British Columbia campus and in the community. These webcasts are archived and freely accessible for viewing through the Irving K. Barber Learning Centre Multimedia Repository.

Chapman Learning Commons

The Learning Commons offers learning support services and programs, as well as access to a variety of technologies including multimedia software and hardware. The Learning Commons includes space for group work as well as comfortable seating for individual study. The entire space is equipped with wireless access.

The Chapman Learning Commons provides an enhanced learning environment for students, staff, faculty, researchers and community members in the refurbished central section of the Irving K. Barber Learning Centre.

The Learning Commons provides integrated support for research and information literacy instruction, writing assistance, learning skills programs and technology through one-to-one help, workshops, peer mentoring and virtual resources and services. The Learning Commons works closely with departments across the UBC Library as well as units across campus in the development and delivery of programs and services.

The Chapman Learning Commons welcomes all members of the UBC community, as well as members of the public. The Learning Commons seeks to provide an open, inviting learning environment featuring comfortable seating, study tables, group work areas, innovative technology and easy access to friendly, knowledgeable staff.

Facility Highlights

• Collection space for 2,100,000 volumes including open stack shelving and 1,800,000 item capacity with the Automated Storage and Retrieval System (ASRS) • Rare Books and Special Collections Fort Fraser Reading Room • Climate-controlled vault for rare books and archives • The Wallace B. and Madeline H. Chung Collection • New locations for:  School of Library, Archival, and Information Studies (SLAIS)  Center for Teaching and Academic Growth (TAG)  Office of Learning Technology (OLT)  Gateway Programs – Arts One, Science One, Coordinated Arts and Coordinated Science • Community concourse and display space • Chapman Learning Commons located in the historical1925 core • Dodson and Lillooet Rooms • Variety of informal study areas with over 1,500 study seats • 157-seat Victoria Learning Theatre • 6 classrooms of various seating capacity, from 40 to110 seats • 5 seminar rooms • 21 group study/project rooms • 2 boardrooms • Ridington Reading Room and Musqueam Reading Room • Ike’s Café with 80-seats

Environmentally Sustainable Features • Radiant in-slab heating and cooling system • High performance triple glazing • Displacement ventilation • Selected 'healthier' low emitting (or VOC-free) materials for improved indoor environment quality • Material selection: Building's demolition materials were collected, sorted and either recycled or reused in the building. For example: the granite from the demolished wings was re-used on the new south-east terrace and on the north (ASRS) façade; The Heritage Core doors, casework and other woodwork items were refinished and reused; Some of the old library shelving was recycled • Selected materials that could be recycled at the end of their lifecycle • Selected and sourced materials in close proximity as possible to the project helped to reduce the energy required for materials transport (precast, glass, pavers)

References:

http://www.asianpacificpost.com/portal2/c1ee8c44195e35b801195e66c727004d_UBC_opens__80_M_modern_learning_centre.do.html