UC secures unprecedented access to global learning resources

The University of Canterbury has been delighted by the support it has received from national and international suppliers that have offered free access for staff and students to tens of thousands of e-books, online journals and global databases potentially worth millions of dollars.



Pro-Vice-Chancellor of Learning Resources Professor Sue McKnight says vendors have been motivated by the impact of last weekend’s earthquake on the University’s central library. The collapse of book stacks on all floors has meant it will not be available for accessing books for the remainder of this semester.



“Some publishers have given us free access to their vast online collections until February next year, while others have offered free access to the end of this year. One US-based vendor has even told us its staff intend to raise funds for the University. The level of support is quite overwhelming."



Professor McKnight says the University approached the vendors to try and address student concerns about the central library’s prolonged closure.



She says students and staff will be provided with online and in-person support to help them utilise the new online services which they will be able to access through their university IT accounts.



The University will also transfer high demand books from the central library to the Law library, which will operate as the 'central library'. Other libraries will be open from Wednesday next week. These are the Education Library, the Macmillan Brown Library and the first level of the Engineering & Physical Sciences Library.



“We will also be extending the opening hours of the Law Library to ensure students have evening and weekend access to library facilities that match the central library' hours.”



Professor McKnight says an alternative to “The Loft” 24-hour study area will also be established on campus.



The University intends library access will be available when teaching is scheduled to resume.