UGA Special Collections Library building to be dedicated Feb. 17
February 8, 2012
Print- Writer:
- Jean Cleveland
- Contact:
- Toby Graham
Athens, Ga - The Richard B. Russell Building Special Collections Libraries at the University of Georgia will be formally dedicated Feb. 17 at 11 a.m. with a celebration on the front lawn of the Hull Street facility.
UGA President Michael F. Adams will speak, along with University Librarian and Associate Provost William Gray Potter. Representing the University System will be Chancellor Hank Huckaby and Regents Larry Walker and W.H. (Dink) NeSmith, who, in addition, chairs the Russell Foundation. Mallory L. Davis, president of the Student Government Association, also will speak.
A reception will follow. In case of inclement weather, the ceremony will be moved to the event hall in the building.
"The new facility is designed to help the university preserve and share its most distinguished books, documents and audio visual material," said William Gray Potter, university librarian and associate provost. "It is a vast archive that has as its focus the history and culture of our state."
After years of planning and fundraising, ground was broken for the $46 million structure in January 2010. The libraries raised one-third of the money through private sources, including a $3 million donation from the Russell Foundation. The building is named in honor of Sen. Richard Russell, who spent a half-century in public service. The building will house the university's three special collections libraries: the Hargrett Rare Book and Manuscript Library, the Walter J. Brown Media Archives and Peabody Awards Collection, and the Richard B. Russell Library for Political Research and Studies.
The Russell Building allows for state of the art storage and security for its most valuable collections. It is on track for LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification, which recognizes implementation of practical and measurable green building design, construction, operations and maintenance solutions.
Three galleries provide space for exhibiting materials relating to the history and culture of Georgia in interactive settings. An auditorium, classroom and seminar rooms allow students to directly experience history in instructional settings.
For more information about the new facility, see http://www.libs.uga.edu/scl/.
Filed under: University News, Facilities
