The College of The Bahamas (COB) held a press conference recently to launch its much-anticipated Virtual Library. The landmark facility, which provides COB staff, students and — for a nominal fee — the public at large with access to thousands of online books, journals and other educational materials, was underwritten by Lyford Cay Foundation, Inc.
“The project would never have been possible without the commitment from the Lyford Cay Foundation,” said COB President Janyne Hodder. “Thanks to the Foundation’s $1.5 million donation, students at the College today benefit from the technology and the infrastructure that will also equip the new Harry C. Moore Library once completed.”
Construction of a 60,000 square foot structure, named after the Foundation’s former Chairman, began in the spring of 2008 and is expected to be completed in late 2010. In the meantime, the Virtual Library, which is temporarily housed within the existing campus library, capitalizes on state-of-the-art technology that was unheard of when Mr. Moore initiated a fundraising drive to help equip the College with a first-rate research and information centre.
“Today is indeed a very special day for the Lyford Cay Foundation, and for me in particular, because I am sure that the spirit of Harry Moore is with us,” said Foundation Chairman Manuel J. Cutillas. “With the launch of this Virtual Library, we are all witnessing the completion of a very important first step to a dream he first had almost 15 years ago.”
The Foundation’s gift was used to purchase new software, upgrade existing software, expand access to digitized materials, and provide new computers and furnishings to create an Information Commons that is being used by hundreds of students every day. The online materials, however, may be accessed from any location that has an Internet connection — even on the remotest settlements in the Family Islands.
“We are deeply and sincerely grateful for the stellar support of Lyford Cay Foundation and their commitment to building a better Bahamas,” said COB Librarian Willamae Johnson. “The Foundation and its donors today have certainly done that through their commitment to the realization of the Virtual Library project.”
The donation from the Foundation is also helping COB to upgrade the capacity of its network infrastructure, and continue both to digitize existing local resources and acquire additional digital holdings.
Photos of the new Information Commons and construction of the Harry C. Moore Library and Information Centre courtesy of COB.
