2009-10-12

The Library at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign offers its patrons, including faculty, staff, and students, new technology this fall. Through the generosity of University of Illinois alumnus, Robert A. David, the Undergraduate Library now houses the BookScan Station, a book-edge scanner connected to a touch-screen self-service PC. U of I’s Library is the first university library in the country to offer this technology.

The BookScan Station has a patented book-edge scanning design that protects book spines from damage and allows the full page to lie flat. University Library patrons may scan paper-free with the BookScan Station. Scanned pages are converted to editable and searchable PDF, Microsoft Word or Excel files and stored digitally on a USB drive.

“The Library is delighted to be one of the first academics to provide this new product to our user community,” said Beth Sandore, associate university librarian for Information Technology Planning and Policy.

David, who graduated with a bachelor of science in business administration from the Urbana campus in 1981, was motivated by a desire to support the University of Illinois with a forward-thinking, eco-friendly device that preserves books and periodicals which students, staff, and faculty can use when they do research. He currently resides in Pleasanton, CA.

Standing (from left to right): Library Friend Robert A. David and Library staff members Roxanne Frey, Beth Sandore, Rudy Leon, and Lori Mestre
Seated at BookScan Station: Library staff member Denise Sampson

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