COMPLETELY new type library is to open on the University of Limerick campus during the 1997 academic year. In fact it's not even being call a library - its title will be the Library and Information Services Building, reflecting an integrated approach to dealing with information.

"It will be one of the first buildings in the world that has consciously set out to be the library of the future with an integrated set of services," says Patrick Kelly, who has himself combined the responsibilities for both library and information systems at UL since 1986.

"We will be bringing specialist librarians and computer, telecommunication and audiovisual experts together in one building to generate a cross sectional service."

The user will enter an "information commons" on the ground floor. This term has been coined to describe an area where information is decoupled from the medium in which it is held - in other words, it doesn't matter whether the information the student is seeking is in a book or hard copy journal, or on a CD ROM, a Web site or elsewhere on line, there will be help available to find it. Personal computers will also be widely distributed around the commons.

Another new feature, for UL at any rate, is the introduction of several group study rooms, where project groups can work together without fear of disturbing others.

"There was a survey of staff and students done in 1994, centring on human requirements, and what emerged was a demand for quiet fresh air, natural light, coffee facilities and areas for study groups," said Kelly.

The fresh air and natural light will be provided by an unusual architectural design, with parallel fingers stretching out from the core, thus increasing the window to floorspace ratio. And there is to be a separate cafeteria on the ground floor, just outside the entrance.

The building, which will be on four floors, will provide 9,160 square metres of space in the first phase to be opened in 1997-1998, and 3,700 in the second. This translates into 1,100 in library study spaces in the first phase, with about 300 seats added in the second.

According to Kelly, the current number of in library places is 591, so this will represent an increase of 86 per cent in the first phase. There are also 588 distributed study places, which will be retained.

The new building will cost £14 million, of which £7 million is being provided by the Government and £7 million by private resources through the University of Limerick Foundation. Construction is to start in mid-May.