Photo credit: Eugene Lin
April 7, 2010
Welcome to UBC Library. I joined the Library in July 2009, and I am honoured to belong to this organization and to UBC, one of the world’s great public universities.
UBC Library stands out as a leading institution in North America and a high-ranking member of the Association of Research Libraries (ARL). The Library has 21 branches and divisions, including on- and off-campus locations and UBC Okanagan Library.
Our collections are large and diverse, and include more than six million volumes, 5.3 million microforms, more than 846,000 maps, audio, video and graphic materials, and more than 97,000 serial titles.
The Library’s online services and electronic resources complement more traditional formats and are growing tremendously. Many Library services can be accessed online and thousands of full-text e-journals, e-books, indexes and databases are available.
Indeed, the digital agenda is a major plank of UBC Library’s strategy. Digital activities typically involve collecting and providing long-term access to electronic publications and archival records, providing new and more efficient types of digital services, and digitizing print and other materials. We continue to develop these streams at UBC Library, both on our own and in partnership with other organizations.
Collections of special and rare materials include the exceptional Wallace B. Chung and Madeline H. Chung Collection, which contains more than 25,000 rare and one-of-a-kind items relating to the discovery of B.C., the development of the Canadian Pacific Railway and Chinese immigration to Canada. We are grateful to our community of generous donors who provide such gifts and other forms of support to ensure that we continue to offer the rich collections and services required of a top-tier academic library in the 21st century.
The Library, however, is more than the sum of its collections. Its true value is realized through the staff, whose expertise and dedication provide users with excellent resources and services. More than 400 full- and part-time employees work in the UBC Library system, and their efforts are the real reason behind the organization’s success.
We also recognize the importance of collaboration and group work to learning and research. The Irving K. Barber Learning Centre (www.ikebarberlearningcentre.ubc.ca), which celebrated its grand opening in April 2008, offers a beautiful and accessible mixture of spaces that promote individual and collaborative learning. With a mandate to provide resources and services that promote lifelong learning for users across the province, the Learning Centre is a prime example of community engagement in action.
Various branches across the UBC Library systems are also exploring ways to enhance their spaces and provide exceptional learning environments for our array of users.
These are inspiring times for academic libraries. I look forward to building on our successes as we seize the opportunities provided by this rapidly changing environment. If you have any comments or questions, please do not hesitate to contact us.
Ingrid Parent
University Librarian
E-mail: ingrid.parent@ubc.ca