UCY students form human chain of knowledge

The Main Library at the University of Cyprus is relocating to the newly-built Learning Resource Center, and students are forming a human chain to take the final batch of books to their new home.

On Monday at 3pm, hundreds of UCY students in Aglandjia, Nicosia, began transferring books in a human chain from the old campus library to the new campus Stelios Ioannou Learning Resource Center. The number of books taken by hand were a symbolic 600, a fraction of the one million printed volumes as well as over 30,000 electronic journal titles and 150 databases.

The new library on the main campus is expected to receive its first book transfer by hand around 5pm. The university administration had canceled a number of afternoon classes due to the campus-wide effort, while some evening classes took place following the event.

All library information will be accessible throughout the scientific community of Cyprus, while the state-of-the-art building will provide approximately 900 study seats and the latest technology.

Typical library services will be located on the ground floor, such as circulation, interlibrary loan, reading rooms, reference department, special loan services, and a Europe Direct office which is also open to the public. The LRC will also have a media centre and a children’s corner, while upper floors will house book collections. A number of group study rooms will also be available throughout the building.

The project was financed mainly by a donation of €8 million by Elli St. Ioannou, in memory of her late husband Stelios Ioannou. Following the benefactor's request the design of the project was assigned to the renowned French architect Jean Nouvel, whose particular architectural design is expected to place Cyprus on the world map of architecture.

The LRC will open its doors officially on Friday.