Storage problems at the U of T Library is threatening its prestigious position. The library is comparable with top Ivy League schools, yet because of a lack of space to properly house volumes, the collection is in danger of losing its value.
“If we put all of our money into our assets, when we get a great collection, we can’t say that we can’t store it properly,” said Ron Venter, Vice-Provost of Space and Facilities Planning.
Chief Librarian, Carole Moore said that the library is struggling to stay open. “We’re already overloaded and over capacity in all libraries virtually…Things are so overcapacity, it’s difficult to keep in order.”
The solution appears to be a new storage facility in Downsview, the current site of U of T’s Institute of Aerospace Studies as well as U of T Press. The building would not be open to students or faculty. Only low-use books would be housed and all would be available by order.
The warehouse will still cost $6 million, which is to be borrowed and paid back over a 20-40 year term. Its construction is made possible by postponement of the development of the Economics Building.
U of T’s borrowing capacity is estimated to be $620 million, a number which the university plans on exceeding. Venter acknowledges this limit but insists its exact position is subjective. “It’s a number to tell us that there’s not much flexibility to go more. So we’re coming close to our limits, [but they] aren’t black and white.”
Despite this extensive debt, Venter insists the new warehouse is vital. “We wouldn’t be going forward if it wasn’t high priority. We’re starting to lose an asset…we’ve got to move or we’re wasting good space downtown.”
Downtown was indeed seen as ideal for the new storage facility. An extension behind Robarts library was proposed but high costs and aesthetics made the option unfeasible. UTSC and UTM also refused the project. Both suburban campuses already have detailed plans in terms of space development.
The Downsview location turned out to be the most viable option. “It was the least expensive and the most acceptable to all campuses,” said Sachin Aggarwal, a student rep on the Planning and Budget Committee of the Governing Council.
Moore also hopes that it will enable the library to better cater to students. “We’re hoping it will be a better service because we will have space to shelve them [the books] properly.”
To deliver books as expediently as possible to students, Venter hopes to tap into existing delivery systems between Downsview and the other campuses. Moore isn’t so optimistic. “We have a three campus delivery service that frankly doesn’t work as well as it should,” she said.
Despite this expansion at Downsview, plans are not being made to constuct a new campus akin to St. George. The noise from the Aerospace Institute is a limiting factor. “We’re not going to develop Downsview,” said Venter. “There’s a lot of experimentation that’s noisy, think of jet engines turning at very high speeds. What better way than to use books with no negative response?”
Downsview also hosts stored hazardous waste. Efforts to remove the PCBs are underway.
