Local News

Courtesy Photo / GVSU
A conceptual photo of GVSU's planned library.

Board of Trustees approves new library

2/5/2010

Grand Valley State University’s Board of Trustees approved Friday the construction of the Mary Idema Pew Library and Information Commons on the university’s Allendale Campus.

None of the funds for the library’s estimated $70 million price tag will come from Michigan's capital outlay process, which allocates tax dollars for the construction and renovation of facilities at the state's public universities.

As of Jan. 13, GVSU had yet to raise $10 million of the $70 million.

A portion of the $70 million will go toward repurposing the 41-year-old Zumberge Library.

The new library will provide approximately 1,500 seats and 30 study rooms.

It will have enough space for 150,000 books. Zumberge houses 506,789 books.

GVSU expects the library’s construction to bring 1,500 design and construction jobs to the region.

The university plans to begin construction in the spring of 2011 and expects the library’s completion some time during 2013.

President Thomas J. Haas said in a press release that the construction of the library will not cause an increase in tuition.

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