The e-research center: transforming a traditional science library

At the University of New Mexico Libraries (UL) a year long process engaged faculty, students and library personnel in developing a new mission for the Centennial Science and Engineering Library (CSEL) that will re-purpose it to serve the evolving need for facilitating e-research. The authors discuss the vision of the UL for being at the center of data intensive and cyber-enabled research and the planned development of the eResearch Center (eRC). They share the planning process and ideas to revitalize a 25 year old science and engineering library into a collaborative transdisciplinary research hub. Plans include installing low-latency and high-availability network connections to the eRC to provide access to a fast, dedicated research network, training and resource collaboration with the campus high performance computing center, a visualization lab, collaborative environments, large-format data displays, and the provision of data life cycle management services. Finally, they share experiences and initiatives to involve the library and librarians more directly and deeply in faculty research and grant writing, and in working at a leadership level with the Office of the Vice President for Research