Fiona Hyslop, Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning, officially opened the £6m extension to the main library at the University of Dundee today.

The library extension has literally turned the facility around. The three-storey structure includes a stunning new entrance way which opens out on to Cross Row, the opposite side of the building from the old entrance.

Fiona Hyslop, Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning, said: "The Scottish Government wants all Scots to have access to learning throughout their lives and the facilities provided by our universities play an important role in delivering this.

"This excellent new library extension will offer students a high quality, modern environment in which to study."

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Once inside the new-look library students are welcomed into a state-of-the-art facility with space for teaching and research rooms, e-learning areas, study areas, office accommodation and a glass-fronted, ground-floor Internet café.

All areas have wireless networking and there are more than 200 PCs for student use.

The creation of these areas has opened up more room in the old building for traditional library space and the extremely popular 'social learning' spaces which turn the stereotypical picture of a quiet, hushed library on its head.

"The social learning aspect, where we often have groups of up to a dozen students all debating and conversing and studying as a group, has become hugely popular and when the library is busy that floor is now one of the most active spaces on campus," said John Bagnall, University Librarian.

"At the same time we also have plenty of room for traditional quiet study space. The addition of the café and some of the other new areas has made a huge difference to the experience for our students.

"Students have been using the new library for a few months now and the reaction has been extremely positive."

The new extension was designed by Glasgow-based architects Austin-Smith:Lord.

(GK/JM)