After 14 months of planning, the Digital Union is set to open next month in Ohio State’s Science and Engineering Library, allowing students and faculty the opportunity to use the newest digital and multimedia technology.
The Digital Union will consist of 2,000 square feet of physical space and will be dedicated to future projects between the University Libraries and other campus-based organizations. It was constructed as part of a partnership between University Libraries and Chief Information Officer Ilee Rhimes.
The home of the Digital Union is on the third floor of the Science and Engineering Library. This “living” laboratory will give students and faculty access to a videoconference suite, video theater and multimedia production facility.
“This lab will give students and faculty access to both the latest and greatest technology, as well as the staff to teach them how to use it properly,” said Stephen Acker, Technology Enhanced Learning and Research director of Learning Technologies Research and Innovation. Acker was also in charge of the design and building of the Digital Union.
One of the goals of Digital Union designers was to make research and project presentation more efficient.
In the past, students and faculty had to go to several places on campus to find all of the research and materials they needed to construct multimedia projects. With the Digital Union, all research and construction of multimedia presentations can be done in one place.
“We’re very pleased to offer the newest technology with the added benefit that it’s far more efficient for the students and faculty to get work done,” said Martin Jameson, acting head of the Science and Engineering Library.
The new technology offered will be particularly useful to graduate students, who are now required to complete their projects in electronic format.
“With some of the complex projects I have coming up, I think it’ll be great to have all of this technology available to me and all in one place,” said Mike Groeber, a graduate student in electrical engineering.
The Digital Union will also allow undergraduates to learn how to use the newest technology and use that experience to help them in their job searches.
“I’m hoping that having experience and being able to do projects on this equipment will give me an advantage when I apply to graduate school or for a job,” said Dan Huynh, a senior in electrical engineering.
There are two staff members employed to help teach students and faculty how to use the new equipment properly.
To use the equipment, students will need to have their project cleared through the university.
The opening ceremony will take place at 3:00 p.m. on March 31.
