The Okanagan Library is excited to announce the success of a student referendum calling for support for a library expansion.
After almost a year of advocating for student feedback and discussion, the UBC Students’ Union Okanagan (UBCSUO) launched a referendum in mid-October asking students to financially support a library/learning centre expansion. Students were asked to support a limited-time student fee increase of $35/semester ($70/year) to be levied to contribute one-third of the total cost of a library expansion.
The referendum passed with an 85% yes vote to the proposed project that will add 45,000 square feet of study and learning space, more than doubling the size of the existing library. The expansion is project to cost up to $30 million, depending on the layout of the new space.
The next stages of the project include acquiring additional financial support, and engaging in student and faculty consultations about the expansion plans.
Expansion of the existing 650-seat library will have a tremendous impact on the student experience, says Rocky Kim, president of the UBCSUO. “The financial contribution of the students towards the library reaffirms the UBCSUO’s position that this is in fact a necessity,” says Kim. “It is my hope that our contribution will trigger additional sources of funding to follow in our example and join us in building UBC Okanagan for the better.”
To learn more about the next stages of the #MORELIBRARY project, visit the Okanagan Library website.
For more information on the referendum, visit the UBC Okanagan News media release.