Meeting the future at the University of Michigan Media Union

Given the increasing digitization of information, even a casual observer can see the diminishing role that standard paper-based libraries will (and already do) play in education. More students and professionals than ever before access and process information digitally over networks and the Internet. How then should colleges and universities accommodate students whose academic needs not only fluctuate with technology but differ dramatically from those of even their most recent predecessors? At the University of Michigan, faculty and staff members addressed this conundrum by planning, designing, and building the Media Union. A unique integration of high tech and education, this facility gives students and teachers access to the latest digital information and technology within a variety of disciplines, including art, design, psychology, architecture, engineering, and the natural sciences