Library of Science and Technology initiated in Iceland

New research project, The Icelandic Book Drive, is soon to establish a Library of Science, Engineering and Technology in Iceland.

The Keilir Institute of Technology (KIT) has recently announced its ambition to establish a top research library focusing on science, engineering, technology, renewable energy and entrepreneurship at the Asbru Enterprise Park in Iceland. The title of the project is: The Iceland Book Drive 2010.

Over 900 local people were left unemployed in 2006 after the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) deserted its Navy base in Keflavik, Iceland – originally founded in 1951. The impact of its departure forced the local population to seek positive opportunities associated within this new worldview. In order to create new jobs in Iceland, the Institute of Technology, Keilir, was established – the institutes main focus being on technology, sustainability, engineering, renewable energy and entrepreneurship.

Although Iceland finds itself currently in the epicentre of the greatest financial crisis in history – causing a lack of funding for new educational facilities – the Keilir Institute has battled on through the hardship, focused on the resurrection of Iceland. Since its launch in 2007, Keilir already boast numerous students schooling in energy technology and mechatronics, as well as the first energy laboratory set to open in 2010.

The Iceland Book Drive Project is a scheme to establish a new library of research materials in order to equip students for their relevant subjects – mainly being technology, engineering and entrepreneurship. This proposed new library, The Library of Science and Technology, would not only exclusively assist students and teachers at the Keilir Institute but also to all other universities dotted across Iceland, as well as companies and the general public.

Books for the library campaign will be collected in various ways such as purchase and donations from individuals. The campaigners also plan to request support from international publishers, universities and organisations in order to maintain education and industry in Iceland. They favour books in English, Danish, Norwegian, Swedish, Spanish, French and German.

Striving to raise an amount of 50,000 USD, The Iceland Book Drive Project aims to collect at least 10,000 textbooks in Iceland and abroad during 2010.

For more information on the project click here.