The Bata Library transformation was cause for celebration earlier today as dignitaries joined over 200 Trent students, faculty, staff, alumni and community members at a special event to celebrate the University’s revitalized library of the future.

“Our vision is a modern, state-of-the-art, connected university library that remains central to the learning experience at Trent. This includes a highly-adaptive, interactive and collaborative environment, which allows students to take command of their academic experience with access to state-of-the-art technology, and knowledgeable staff, in intellectually stimulating spaces,” said Dr. Leo Groarke, president and vice-chancellor, Trent University. “It is wonderful to see this vision come to life in the new Bata.”

Like today’s most contemporary libraries, the transformed Bata Library, designed by architects Perkins + Will, offers many diverse social and experiential opportunities with the aim to promote community and a sense of belonging – one of the hallmarks of a Trent education. The enhanced library builds on this environment by allowing students to move seamlessly from collaborative engagement in class to collaborative study spaces in the library. Trent’s library of the future is also well-equipped to ensure Trent students, faculty and staff can meet future demands around technology and new models of educational delivery. New technological infrastructure allows users to search everything within Trent’s resources and outside of Trent at the same time – ensuring all materials can be accessed anytime, anywhere. 

The $18 million library transformation project was made possible through an $8.1 million funding infusion from the federal and provincial governments, $7.9 million from Trent University, and $2.1 million from philanthropic donations.

“Our government values the economic, social and environmental impact of Trent University. We are investing in people and places like the library to help grow the middle class in Peterborough-Kawartha and support those working hard to join it," said The Honourable Maryam Monsef, member of Parliament for Peterborough-Kawartha and a Trent alumna, who attended the celebration. "The $7 million investment through our government’s Post-Secondary Institutions Strategic Investment Fund for the Bata transformation is helping provide students with the resources and space they need to excel as Canada’s current and future leaders.”

“Our government’s investment in Trent University is a downpayment on our plan to position Canada as a global centre for innovation,” said The Honourable Navdeep Bains, Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development. “This means making Canada a world leader in turning ideas into solutions, science into technologies, skills into jobs and start-up companies into global successes.”

The Bata project was set in motion in 2015, by longtime friends and supporters of the University, David and Joan Moore. The Moores donated $1 million to help begin the planning process of the transformation, and then committed another $250,000 in matching dollars to inspire others to give. Other significant donations to the transformed Bata Library included funding from Paul Odette ’72, whose father helped build the Bata Library in 1967, and the Bata Family through the Bata Family Shoe Foundation who supported the Entrepreneurship and Social Innovation Centre.

Many donors and supporters, including David and Joan Moore and Paul Odette, joined Minister Monsef, Trent leaders President Groarke, Chancellor Don Tapscott and university librarian Robert Clarke, and other dignitaries including Curve Lake Elder Doug Williams and The Honorable David Piccini, MPP Northumberland-Peterborough South at the celebration event. The project architects were also in attendance to mark the celebration.

Features of Trent’s Library of the Future

In keeping with Trent’s commitment to heritage stewardship, the redesign and transformation of the Bata Library paid particular attention to the unique history and Ron Thom design legacy of this significant architectural treasure. The library was renewed to ensure that it remains the intellectual hub of campus, while also offering a new space for students to learn and thrive on campus.

Features of the transformed Bata Library include:

• Carefully selected book and non-print collections – the modernized library features both print collections and modern and expanding digital resources. Trent partnered with the Internet Archives to digitize and preserve 250,000 books from the library through the Open Libraries project;
• Updated student areas and study spaces, including group study rooms, study tables, quiet study spaces, a presentation practice room and casual seating areas;
• Entrepreneurship and Social Innovation Centre – a valuable site for social engagement in experiential learning, and development of new experiential learning projects and work placements for students;
• Three research centres – Trent Centre for Aging and Society, Indigenous Environmental Institute, and the Canadian Centre for Environmental Modelling in Chemistry;
• Data and Visualization Lab – part of the Maps, Data & Government Information Centre – provides faculty and students with state-of-the-art tools, including advanced computers, spatial and statistical software, and 3D and VR analysis and display technologies;
• Visualization Space and Creativity Lab – a state-of-the-art centre for innovative research and learning;
• The Odette Critical Making Studio – encourages creative experimentation and provides access to technology and software in order to create physical and digital objects where knowledge and ideas are rendered into the material world;
• Deborah Berrill Teaching Design Studio – to support faculty across all disciplines in learning about and implementing the most recent developments in higher education teaching practice;
• Design elements that promote environmental sustainability, including a green wall.

The celebration event included tours of the transformed library, interactive demonstrations showcasing the latest features of the new research centres, live music, and a ceremonial ribbon cutting.