This is an exciting time to be director of the University Libraries. We are looking forward to the complete renovation of the William Oxley Thompson (Main) Library, one of the largest academic building projects undertaken here at Ohio State. As a top priority for the university, $79 million in capital and other funds have been allocated for this project. An additional $30 million in private support must be raised in order for the project to be completed. Thanks to the generosity of several major donors, we have now raised $20 million of our goal.

During the past two decades, libraries have moved into a new era. Digital resources now play a major role in all libraries and, here at Ohio State, our librarians have been leaders in introducing new digital reference tools, electronic journals, books, and online information services to students and faculty. Our challenge is to design a library for the 21st century that is beautiful, functional, and flexible enough to bring paper- and digital-based information services together.

We want our library to be a place that pays tribute to the enduring value of books and human interaction in the creation of knowledge, while also being an exciting place to use new digital information technology in support of learning, teaching, and research.

Joseph J. Branin
Director
University Libraries

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