Harris Learning Library wins award

The Harris Learning Library at Nipissing University and Canadore College has won a 2013 New Library Building Award from the Ontario Library Association (OLA). The OLA New Library Building Awards encourage and showcase excellence in the architectural design and planning of libraries in Ontario. The competition runs every third year to allow a critical number of projects in all types of libraries to accumulate. The award was announced recently by the OLA on June 11.

“It is very rewarding to see our library, and the architect's creative work, be recognized with this award,” said Dr. Mike DeGagné, president and vice-chancellor of Nipissing University. “This beautiful and welcoming facility is a tremendous benefit to our students, providing them an inspiring, well-designed space in which to work and study that matches the expectations of our dedicated librarians.”

Some of the key features that distinguish the Harris Learning Library include the beautiful Thomson Reading Room, collaborative workspaces for group projects, quiet study areas for individual work, a large computer lab, wireless connectivity throughout the building, an abundance of natural light, and comfortable, open spaces in which students can study and relax.

The Harris Learning Library participates in a resource sharing program with nine regional libraries through the PALS (Public and Academic Libraries Sharing). This program allows Canadore/Nipissing students and faculty and members of the PALS communities reciprocal borrowing.

Congratulations to the Harris Learning Library architects: Diamond + Schmitt Architects / Evans Bertrand Hill Wheeler Architecture Inc.