Collaboratory shifts traditional view of library

Donor Mary Hatch gets some help with ribbon cutting from UWindsor president Robert Gordon, head librarian Pascal Calarco, and associate Karen Pillon.

“The heart and soul of a university is its library,” said donor Mary Hatch at an event Friday, Sept. 20, to mark the grand opening of Leddy Library’s new Student Research Collaboratory.

The newly renovated area has changed the traditional use of library space into an interactive place for idea sharing and innovation, offering a multi-modal environment that allows for both group and independent study.

The Collaboratory boasts adjustable zone lighting, video conferencing capabilities, and a digital presentation space where students can share their research findings and develop collaborative relationships with partners from across campus and globally.

University of Windsor president Robert Gordon thanked Hatch for her generous support and said the space is a physical reminder of the University’s commitment to its research community.

“We are just as passionate about knowledge gathering as we are about knowledge creation, dissemination, and mobilization,” he said. “With the space now complete, it is astonishing to see what vision and generosity can accomplish.”

University librarian Pascal Calarco said that although libraries have always been known as places of quiet and solace, they have also experienced a shift to ideals that include a place where people gather to create and exchange knowledge, as well as record it, shape it, and expand it.

“Libraries are dynamic — the information of today moves, as do we. To help us build and create the ideas of tomorrow, libraries are continuously evolving through action, collaboration, and partnerships.”