McGill University Libraries Unveil Game-Changing Collections Centre: A New Era in Sustainable Book Preservation and Retrieval
October 1, 2024 – Valleyfield, QC – McGill University is pleased to announce the official opening of the McGill University Collections Centre on October 1, 2024. This groundbreaking facility marks a historic milestone as McGill's first-ever design-build project and sets a new standard for library preservation and sustainability in Quebec.
Located in Valleyfield, the 4,200 square metre state-of-the-art facility features a revolutionary automated retrieval system that holds 2.38 million books. The building incorporates advanced robotics and a unique grid-like aluminum retrieval structure, making McGill University Libraries the only library system in the world to utilize the AutoStore© system for the storage, preservation, and retrieval of books*.
Preserving the Past for Future Generations
The Centre will serve as the new hub for McGill University Libraries' book retrieval and delivery service, housing a portion of the older, significant, yet less frequently used items in the collection. This initiative underscores McGill's commitment to preserving and making accessible its deep and unique collections, while simultaneously alleviating pressure on campus stack spaces to allow for more collaborative study, research, and work environments for McGill students, faculty, and staff.
“The McGill University Collections Centre is more than a storage facility. It holds materials that have shaped our understanding of the world since McGill Libraries began collecting books in 1845. This transformational project ensures that this knowledge remains accessible to our community and users across the country and beyond - now and for generations to come,” said Guylaine Beaudry, Trenholme Dean of Libraries, McGill University.
A Sustainable Innovation
Sustainability is at the heart of the McGill University Collections Centre, which proudly holds LEED Gold certification for its commitment to energy conservation, water-use reduction, enhanced indoor air quality, and minimal environmental impact. The facility’s automated storage and retrieval system, consisting of six robots, is remarkably energy-efficient—running them over a 24-hour period consumes less energy than using a vacuum cleaner for just 30 minutes. In addition, the building features low-maintenance exterior grounds and uses electric delivery vehicles. The climate-controlled facility includes advanced measures to prevent water infiltration, flooding, and fire, ensuring that McGill’s valuable collections remain safe and secure. “This achievement is in line with our Climate and Sustainability Strategy (2020-2025), which aims to incorporate LEED requirements into new construction and major renovation projects,” said François Miller, McGill’s Executive Director of Sustainability.
*McGill Libraries’ claim to be the only library system in the world using the AutoStore system for book preservation and retrieval is based on available data as of September 2024. To their knowledge, two archives currently use this system: United Arab Emirate Archives and FBI Archives.
Quick Facts:
- 33-million-dollar project funded by McGill University.
- Construction of the 4,200 square metre (45,000 sq. ft.) facility began in March 2022 and was completed in September 2023.
- It took three years to review and prepare the collections for transfer of 2.38 million books to the Collections Centre. The movement of books took place over 140 days.
- Total number of physical and electronic volumes/items in the collection: 10,263,261
- Total number of physical volumes/items in collection: 3,928,972
- Total # of locations at McGill Libraries: 12
- As of September 2024, 2.38 million items were relocated from McGill’s downtown campus to Valleyfield.
- # of robots: 6
- Three of the six robots have been formally named – The names are Donny, Tommy, and Roben (related to a fundraising initiative).
- Grid structure dimensions: 50.3 m x 51.1 m
- # of bins in the automated retrieval system: 95,092 bins
- Average number of books per bin: 31.8
- # of tonnes of materials held in the facility: 2000+
- 30 kg limit per bin
- # of items pulled from the bin per week: 600-800
- Deliveries occur five days a week to library locations and faculty offices (by request) with a one-day turnaround between request and delivery
Services at the McGill University Collections Centre
- Book Retrieval Service
- Article / Chapter Scan Service
- Distance Borrowing
- Faculty Office Delivery
Contact: info.communications.ca
