York College of Pennsylvania Celebrates Schmidt Library Grand Reopening
Posted September 24, 2004FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
York College of Pennsylvania announced the grand reopening of the Schmidt Library on Sept. 23, following extreme renovations that enhanced its capabilities as an academic resource for higher learning.
The newly renovated library reflects the growing need for resourceful and technologically savvy graduates in the work force. The library provides students with access to new electronic resources, including a wireless network and expanded databases with 14,000 electronic journals and 56 million book titles. In addition, reorganization of one million pounds of reference material created improved stack areas and allowed for group work space and individual study carrels.
"Libraries are now technology-intensive learning centers," says Dr. George Waldner, President of York College. "The new Schmidt Library defines the cutting edge of that trend and will serve as a model for colleges throughout the region."
"A Time to Act"
The Schmidt Library renovation marks completion of the first project under the college's ambitious strategic plan, which seeks to address the growth and changing needs of the student body. Total full-time enrollment growth over the past 12 years represents an increase of 45 percent, with a majority of the growth in the past eight years. With a current enrollment of 4,300 full-time students, York College is striving to provide many new facilities to make available increased opportunities for its students to develop as well-rounded individuals in academic, social and fitness areas.
Fundraising and institutional savings provide the financial foundation for the transformation at York College. Many community and alumni donors have contributed to the ongoing capital campaign, "A Time to Act," which supports the renovation of campus buildings, such as Schmidt Library, and the construction of the new Spartan Center.
Cultural Center
Additional transformation projects focus on providing more academic instruction space and building a college theater to accommodate student plays, lectures by distinguished speakers and theater productions. These projects will restructure the current Wolf Gymnasium to create a humanities and social sciences center in the lower section of the gymnasium and a theater in the upper level.
For more information regarding "A Time to Act," contact Guy Calcerano, Dean of Development and Alumni Relations at (717) 815-1502.
For more information regarding construction activities, contact Dr. Ken Martin, Dean of Campus Operations at
(717) 815-1211.
