On September 28, the Geoffrey and Robyn Sperber Health Sciences Library officially opened to the U of A community. A key initiative within the university’s Integrated Asset Management Strategy, the new library capitalizes on the interdisciplinary design of the Edmonton Clinic Health Academy (ECHA) and features accessible, inviting, and inclusive spaces.
Through an innovative project that involved selective demolition along with substantial reconfiguration and internal renovation within the north end of ECHA at both the main and lower levels, the reimagined space includes quiet and group study areas, virtual reality and media labs, an Indigenous learning space, Indigenous Healing Collection, and an exhibit from the Dentistry Museum Collection.
Welcome to the Library
The Health Sciences Library entrance is on the ground level of ECHA, across from Starbucks. Staffed by knowledgeable information services specialists, the service desk offers services, answers questions and books research consultation with librarians.
Dentistry Museum Collection
The U of A Dentistry Museum Collection, featuring over 2,000 pieces, is located next to the entrance. Led by Dr. Geoffrey Sperber, a former Faculty of Dentistry professor, the collection was amassed over several decades. Learn about the collection and its history.
Group and individual study spaces
The Library features a variety of study spaces, including bookable individual/group study rooms, quiet study areas, and a new classroom space. The reconfigured space prioritizes natural lighting throughout, even at the basement level.
Indigenous Learning Space
The Indigenous Learning Space offers a meeting place in which the community can learn through Indigenous pedagogies and ways of knowing across different First Nations, Métis, and Inuit cultures. Elders, students, faculty, staff, and alumni can schedule the space for meeting and learning together. A growing Indigenous Healing collection is situated near the space.
Virtual Reality Lab
The Sperber Library's VR Lab is one of two virtual reality facilities within the U of A Library. The Lab offers free, shared access to hardware and software to faculty, staff, and students to explore the opportunities of using VR in teaching or research.
3D Printing
Accessible to all U of A students, faculty and staff, the Library provides a free 3D printing service for educational or research purposes. As part of this service, the Sperber Library features five Prusa MK4 printers.
Sperber Library Media Lab
The media lab provides a noise-free environment and high-end equipment or audio or video recording. Faculty, staff, and students can book the lab after a short orientation session. Editing can be done on a personal computer or a high-performance computer provided remotely by the Digital Scholarship Centre.
