It’s been over a year since Ryerson University’s newest addition to campus, the Library of the 21st century - the Student Learning Centre (SLC) was opened. This fascinating new building offers students an unprecedented learning space beyond its contemporary looking glass walls and automatic solar blinds. In this presentation, the speakers will discuss how Ryerson’s Student Learning Centre has changed some of the traditional roles of academic libraries, while presenting new opportunities and challenges. The speakers will use the Library’s Digital Media Experience Lab (DME) located in the Student Learning Centre as a case study to frame this discussion. Over the past academic year Ryerson Library has offered access to interesting and emerging technologies such as Arduino microcontrollers, LittleBits, Oculus Rifts, Pico projectors as well as access to innovative workshops such as DIY DroneBuilding and 3D printed wearable technology. As part of the implementation of these programs Ryerson Library has also widely employed the use of Slack as a communication tool, replacing the traditional Walkie-Talkies.
