Establishing a Library of Science and Technology in Iceland

The Iceland Book Drive Project is to establish a Library of Science and Technology in Iceland.

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

In 2006, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) abandoned its Navy base in Keflavik, Iceland, since 1951, leaving over 900 local people unemployed. Instead of focusing on the negative aspects of the departure, the local population looked at the opportunities associated with the new worldview and consequently established a new Institute of Technology, Keilir, focusing on sustainability, technology, engineering, renewable energy, and entrepreneurship in order to create new jobs in Iceland.

The Keilir Institute has come a long way since its foundation in 2007. The first students in energy technology and mechatronics have started their studies and the first energy laboratory is due to open in 2010.

However, today, Iceland finds itself in the middle of the largest financial crisis in history, where supports for new educational facilities are severely reduced. Again, rather than give up, Keilir is moving forward and looking for people willing to contribute to the resurrection of Iceland.

The Iceland Book Drive Project is an initiative to create a new library, providing research books, periodicals, etc. The Library will focus on books and periodicals about science, technology, engineering, renewable energy, and entrepreneurship. Books for the library will be collected in various ways such as donations and purchases. The library will not only serve students and teachers at the Keilir Institute but all other universities in Iceland, companies, and also the general public. The name of the library is The Library of Science and Technology.

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

The Iceland Book Drive campaign will seek donations from individuals worldwide, friends, professors, donors, and book authors. The campaigners also plan to call upon support from international publishers, universities, and other organisations, which want to support education and industries in Iceland. They prefer books in English, Danish, Norwegian, Swedish, German, French and Spanish.

To find out more information visit http://asbru.is/English/

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