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The University of Wollongong in Dubai (UOWD) officially opened its expanded high-tech student library last week. Amelia Naidoo reports

Students of the University of Wollongong in Dubai (UOWD) were thrilled last week to find that they now have access to thousands of sources of information in the form of books, online databases and CDs.

The new UOWD library at Dubai Knowledge Village houses more than 24,000 books, CDs and journals, 200 online databases, 24 computers, five laptops, 22,000 online journals, 3,000 online textbooks and one million articles, conference papers and reports. There are also 80 individual study spaces and six group study rooms.

Modern libraries changing
The library was inaugurated by Dr Badr Aboul-Ela, Director of the Commission for Academic Accreditation at the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research.

He said the UAE was strongly committed to creating an environment that would foster higher education of the highest standards, and universities with strong reputations and programmes tailored to local market needs were welcome.

However, Dr Badr said the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research would not hesitate to take tough action against those who failed to meet the stipulated standards.

He also commented that the use of Information Technology had dramatically changed the profile of modern libraries and commended UOWD for raising the bar on library services by building a new integrated library, offering e-tools that have become a critical component of knowledge acquisition and research.

Enriching the learning experience
UOWD president Professor Rob Whelan said: "The opening of a complete, modern library with integrated IT facilities is a key move in UOWD's strategy to take education standards and student facilities to the next level."

"We look at the library as a core resource for providing students access to knowledge thus enriching their learning experience. We have made sure that students have the best environment to pursue their projects and research," he added.

The UOWD library has changed significantly since the university was established in Dubai 15 years ago.
It was established in 1993 at the university's first premises near Al Mulla Plaza on the Dubai-Sharjah border. The library then had only two computers and around 3,000 books.

At the Jumeirah Beach Road premises, the library was housed in a single room and then expanded within two years.

In January 2004, the library was moved to Knowledge Village. In September 2008, a library annex was opened at the campus with 30 study spaces and a circulation desk with two staff members.

Student feedback
Farah Kamal Al Deen, majoring in human resources at UOWD, said the new library is very accessible and has many online databases.

"You don't have to bother anyone to access the databases - it can be done from anywhere as long as you have your username and password."

Gheda Farah, an internet science major, said group study was now very easy because of the availability of private study rooms.

"I've heard that the older library was much smaller than this one. I'm very glad that we can now borrow laptop computers, DVDs and CDs in addition to books," said accounting major Ali Kadhum.