month, ahead of schedule and on budget, will eventually become Bermuda's largest academic library, housing somewhere between 80,000 and 100,000 volumes on a total of two miles of shelving.

Architects Mr. Douglas Backeburg and Mrs. Elizabeth Caulfield of Marshall Bernardo Partnership have designed the building to utilise as much natural light as possible. Mrs. Caulfield, who has worked as assistant architect on the Stonington project right from the beginning in 1978, says that the light oak furnishings were selected to provide a direct contrast with the old, somewhat dismal Victorian atmosphere so often encountered in collegiate libraries.

Suspended accoustical ceilings help to preserve the cathedral-quiet aura, particularly in the generous amount of space devoted to personal study areas.

The Library of Congress classification system is used throughout. College Librarian Ms. Daurene Aubrey explains: "It makes sense to use the same system as that used in US and Canadian universities and colleges. When our students go on to finish their degrees overseas, they will be familiar with the system and understand how to use it.'' The facilities offered at the new library are impressive by any standard and well in line with necessary requirements for the College's plans to introduce a full degree course in Hospitality Management in the near future.

As Bermuda College spokeswoman Mrs. Jan Doidge says: "We are already attracting overseas students and once the degree course is in place, the library will be absolutely crucial. We have to offer the very best facilities to compete with other overseas locations. This is an academic library, carefully planned to match the curricula we offer at the College.'' Mrs. Doidge emphasises that the new library was not, however, designed for the exclusive use of full, or even part-time students. "We pride ourselves on being Bermuda's college -- not just the Bermuda College.'' For a fee of $25, any resident of Bermuda can become a full member of the Library, borrowing books and using the many facilities offered.

These include a magazine section, microfilm room, a very small "Bermuda'' section, which, Mrs. Doidge says, will hopefully, expand substantially as time goes on. There is also a Rare Book Room which at present, is "woefully'' empty. There is a Conference Room and an innovative book hoist that streamlines the delivery of books to the library section and the new book store downstairs.

The spacious check-out section includes a Reserve Room where lecturers place certain material on reserve for students on specific assignments.

At present, the library is open until 8.30 p.m. from Monday to Thursday during term time and for evening classes.

"We would like to extend the hours, but we would need more staff to keep it open at weekends,'' says Mrs. Doidge.

It there is an area of concern about the immediate future of this impressive building, it is the fact that Government spending restraints have meant that the Library is presently under-staffed and, according to Ms. Aubrey, is still critically short of the fundamental requirement of any library -- books.

"At present, we only have about 27,000 volumes. These have been transferred from Roberts Avenue. It is a wonderful library but we do need many, many more books,'' she explains. And at present, Ms. Aubrey is the only qualified librarian. "We need two more and I'm sure that when things improve, we shall be able to have them. I've received wonderful help from Bermuda College students, employed for the summer, who have helped me move and sort all the books. We couldn't have managed without them.'' It is hoped that the community will step in to help bolster the number of books on the shelves. A book fair was held for this purpose during the official opening. "We brought in 100 reference books that we desperately needed and some were spoken for, but not enough.'' Plans are in hand to arrange for the permanent display of the names of donors in the library, but meanwhile, Ms. Aubrey cautions against over-enthusiac would-be donors. "We would be very grateful for donations but we would like to speak to people first. In the past, if we have been given books that were found to be unsuitable, we have suggested that they are passed on to other schools or to the prison.'' Ideally, she says, she would appreciate prior consultation on books that are required by the library from any groups who are thinking of making donations.

Future plans include development of the research facility. The new Centre for Tourist Research and Innovation is already in place, and in May, hosted the first Island Tourism International Forum, when over 100 tourism experts gathered at the College.

Ms. Aubrey says that with computers playing an increasingly important role in research, the library has recognised the need for a network function that would provide a link with other libraries overseas.

The Book Store is housed on the ground floor of the new building. Text books, stationery and art equipment is all available there. The public are encouraged to use the store but Mrs. Doidge points out that students will get first choice of items in stock, which may mean that certain books or equipment would have to be placed on order.

The lower floor now houses Academic Services, where students can obtain counselling, advice or individual testing, and the Academic Resource Centre where one-on-one help with academic problems is available.

Work on the next stage of the complex, West Hall, has already begun and will provide offices for members of the faculty.

The last building to complete the Stonington campus will be North Hall, which will house additional classrooms and finally provide a home for the Automotive Technology Department.

THE HALLS OF LEARNING -- Students in the circulation section of the new Bermuda College library. Pictured are (left to right) Mrs. Eudora Zuill, Miss Raziye Swan, Mr. Owen Hunt and Mr. Robin Holder.

STUDY TIME -- The new library at the Bermuda College provides ample space for private study. Pictured is 19-year-old Mr. Owen Hunt who has just graduated from the College and has been employed this summer as one of the helpers who have moved and sorted 27,000 volumes in their new location.