(Black PR Wire)\u00a0The sun shined brilliantly overhead Thursday morning as Grambling State ushered in the dawn of a new age and era with a ribbon-cutting ceremony celebrating the grand opening of the institution\u2019s new Digital Library and Learning Commons.<\/p>\n
A space to connect, create, and collaborate. The state-of-the-art, 50,000 square foot facility is designed to support all aspects of learning. With more than 150 computer stations, 17,000 square feet of study space, and multipurpose space for events, meetings, and seminars, it is the ultimate intersection of academics, curiosity, and community.<\/p>\n
Thursday\u2019s celebration was a historic moment for GSU, which saw the opening of the old A.C. Lewis Memorial Library in 1962, with an addition built in 1986.<\/p>\n
But over the years, time took its toll on the old GSU library, and looking toward the future, in 2017, then President Rick Gallot began a digital library project to replace the existing facility. With the support of alumni, faculty, and students, the project gained funding and commitments, and in 2019, construction began on the first digital library at a Historically Black College and University (HBCU).<\/p>\n
The journey toward the $16.6M library\u2019s opening eventually became an arduous one due to circumstances beyond the university\u2019s control. But perseverance and persistence finally paid off, leading up to Thursday\u2019s official unveiling of GSU\u2019s new doorway to the future.<\/p>\n
Gallot, now President\/CEO of the University of Louisiana System (ULS), was on hand for the grand opening celebration.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe ribbon cutting of the GSU Digital Library and Learning Commons marks a transformational moment for Grambling State University, the University of Louisiana System, and the global landscape of academia,\u201d Gallot said. \u201cThis modern marvel provides GSU scholars with a digital learning environment that rivals\u2014and indeed, exceeds\u2014the offerings of many world-renowned and well-resourced institutions.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt equips our esteemed faculty and staff with immediate connectivity to a vast repository of digital resources and pedagogical tools. This milestone is a testament to the audacious spirit of Grambling State University, where no vision is too big, or too bold.\u201d<\/p>\n
Current Grambling State President Dr. Martin Lemelle, Jr. was Executive Vice President when planning and groundbreaking for the Digital Library and Learning Commons was being done. He called Thursday\u2019s grand opening a journey of determination and resilience.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe fought for this project because we know it\u2019s important and we fight for Dear Ole Grambling because we believe in the boundless potential of every student who walks through our doors,\u201d Lemelle said.<\/p>\n
\u201cSo yes, we are building, and we are fighting. We\u2019re building a future where every student can excel, and we are fighting to ensure that Grambling remains a beacon of hope, resilience and excellence. We\u2019re building a bridge between the past and the future, and we are fighting to keep the legacy of our flame burning bright.\u201d<\/p>\n
Lemelle said the Digital Library and Learning Commons will be a place where ideas are born, and boundaries are broken.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt will be where we light the torch of victory,\u201d Lemelle said. \u201cVictory in learning. Victory in innovation. And victory in community. It is here that we will fight for Dear Ole Grambling, and in this fight we will arm ourselves with the knowledge, perseverance, and the unyielding spirit that defines us.<\/p>\n
\u201cSo, as we stand here today, let us remember what we set out to do \u2014 let us tell them we are building, not just structures, but the future. Let us tell them we\u2019re building not just spaces but legacies. And as we continue to build, let us also fight \u2014 fight for the dreams of our students, fight for the excellence of our university, and yes, fight for Dear Ole Grambling for we are the pride of the USA and there is no doubt that we will win today, tomorrow and always.\u201d<\/p>\n
Dean of GSU\u2019s Digital Library and Learning Commons Adrienne Webber said the new facility will propel GSU and its students into a bigger and brighter future than ever before.<\/p>\n
\u201cLet me tell you what\u2019s going to happen with this program \u2014 we\u2019re going to have a \u2018Maker\u2019s Space\u2019 because our students think differently than I did when I would go to class, learn something, graduate, and do what I learned. These students today are a little different. When they think about it, they dream about it, they write about it, they draw about it and then they want to put it together and see what will happen.<\/p>\n
\u201cSo, we need to have things like 3-D imaging and 3-D printers because they can change the world. Students at another institution designed a straw that filters water and that was later purchased by Walmart. \u2026 That can happen right here at Grambling State University because this library will have the tools that the students will use to do that.\u201d<\/p>\n
Webber said plans are for the library to include laser and etching machines, a cricut maker, a soldering station, hot wire cutter and plastic vending machines among other tools.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf you think it, you can make it,\u201d Webber said. \u201cAnd then we\u2019re going to be able to find out if an idea is an original or if someone has it already. We\u2019re hoping to become a patent and trade resource center. These students are so creative. Their audio, video and AI skills are tremendous and we\u2019re going to provide them with the tools to build on those skills.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re going to have a digital repository, so when our students write, they can also take that and have it published. We\u2019re going to change how people view our students. From poetry to something scientific, whatever is in the repository will be transferred to those areas. The students will not have a reason not to learn more and do more.\u201d<\/p>\n
Others speaking during the grand opening ceremony included Student Government Association President Morgan Patton, Miss Grambling State University Jess\u2019Lyn Sanders, city of Grambling Mayor Alvin Bradley, ULS Board Chair Mark Romero, and Louisiana Commissioner of Higher Education Dr. Kim Hunter.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt took too long for us to get here, but we are mighty glad that we are here today,\u201d Hunter said. \u201cTo open this amazing and historic digital library for the students of Grambling State University was important because a dream deferred is not a dream denied.\u201d<\/p>\n
Hunter, whose parents graduated from GSU, said the Digital Library and Learning Commons is not her parents\u2019 library.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere\u2019s no Dewey Decimal system, no card catalog, and no dusty books for miles to go,\u201d Hunter said. \u201cAnd no sweet librarians shushing you when you\u2019re making too much noise. But a library is still the heartbeat of every campus, a place where students grow, gather, and collaborate. And this one is special because education today is about research, innovation, and technology around amazing online databases, AI, and information beyond that as well.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s what makes today special. We are moving into the future with this amazing facility, and we know great things will happen inside of it. And it\u2019s the first for an HBCU and the first for the state of Louisiana. So, as I look at this facility, I would say it is beautiful. It is historic. It is an amazing nod to Grambling\u2019s past, and it is an exclamation point on Grambling\u2019s future.\u201d<\/p>\n
Photo caption<\/strong>:\u00a0Grambling State President Martin Lemelle, Jr. is joined by Student Leaders Jess\u2019Lyn Sanders (Miss GSU-Elect) and Morgan Patton (SGA President-Elect), the executive cabinet, LA Board of Regents, UL System President Rick Gallot and his Board of Directors, Dean Adrienne Webber and the Library staff, and Grambling Mayor Alvin Bradley to officially open the Digital Library and Learning Commons. Grambling State University is the first HBCU in the Country and only institution in Louisiana with a facility of its type.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n Source: Grambling State University<\/p>\n Source: Published without changes from BlackPRNewsWire<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" (Black PR Wire)\u00a0The sun shined brilliantly overhead Thursday morning as Grambling State ushered in the dawn of a<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":6291,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[38],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-6290","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-education"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/africanamericanvoice.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6290","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/africanamericanvoice.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/africanamericanvoice.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/africanamericanvoice.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/africanamericanvoice.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=6290"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/africanamericanvoice.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6290\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":6292,"href":"https:\/\/africanamericanvoice.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6290\/revisions\/6292"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/africanamericanvoice.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/6291"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/africanamericanvoice.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=6290"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/africanamericanvoice.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=6290"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/africanamericanvoice.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=6290"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}