The University of Queensland Cybrary

For excellence in the field of library building design and service delivery

The University of Queensland Ipswich Campus Cybrary is the result of the drive, enthusiasm, determination, and imagination of Janine Schmidt and her dedicated team.

The cybrary has been co-located with other service providers - student centre, health services, student union, the Office of Gender Equity, and the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Unit - creating a sense of community on campus.

Teaching and learning facilities at the university reflect the move to more student-centred learning and the new forms of educational interaction supported by information and communication technologies. A high quality learning environment that provides real and virtual opportunities for students and staff to meet, exchange ideas and engage in the learning process is essential. A social environment that supports interactions beyond the classroom is of great benefit. The new centre is pivotal to providing excellent learning experiences for students studying at the Ipswich campus.

The dynamic building offers a range of study spaces to users, which provide a variety of ways to interact with information and people: group and individual study areas, casual seating, and seminar rooms for example. The library also houses more than 180 public access computers, and 40 wireless laptops are available for loan.

The library boasts one of the largest research collections in the country. The collection includes both print and virtual collections: books and journals, e-books and e-journals, CD-ROMs and networked databases, newspapers, feature films and documentaries. The cybrary also supports multimedia production through a fully equipped multimedia production facility for all students.

The University of Queensland Ipswich Campus Cybrary is a place that attracts and retains people: it welcomes rather than intimidates. The building has all the hallmarks of a place that has been designed as a result of research into best practice, not just in libraries but also in service delivery.

The University of Queensland Ipswich Campus Cybrary and the team responsible for the design and development of the facility are worthy winners of the ALIA excellence award 2003.