New Library at Kinneret College

Background
Kinneret College is located south of Tiberias, at Zemach, a major crossroads linking the Jordan Valley highway from the south to the area of Lake Kinneret and the Galilee region northwards. Zemach is also the gateway to the Golan Heights. The college has a student body of 4,000 of whom 1,500 are in academic tracks. Being the only institute of higher education in the Jordan Valley Regional Council, the college plays an important role in regional development.

Kinneret College Today
The campus currently contains a classroom and labs building, and an administration wing. A master plan for further development of the campus includes buildings for the engineering school, Humanities and Jewish Studies, a Student Center and laboratories center. The library is the spearhead of this plan that will, by 2020, create a top-notch campus for Kinneret College.

While expanding its role as a regional college that offers programs for technical diplomas, completion of matriculation exams, gifted school children, and more, the College is placing more emphasis on becoming an autonomous college accredited to confer fully-recognized degrees on students. Three years ago, Kinneret began to offer its first independent degree programs: B.Sc. in electronics and electrical engineering (the only one in the north outside of Haifa), and B.A. in Tourism and Hotel Management (the only one in the country). Kinneret is aiming to create a fully-diversified School of Engineering.

The Library Project

With a current student body of 4,000, Kinneret College's current library can hold only 80 students, and is housed ad-hoc in a building designed for other purposes. It has only 5 computer stations. This library is supposed to act as the main center for study, reference and loan for the entire regional council, and the eight schools located there.

The Sklare Family Foundation and Rashi have embarked on a joint project to create a library that befits an academic college. The library will be named for Mr. Robert Sklare, founder of the family foundation, who sadly did not live to see the realization of the project which he so warmly embraced.

Status
Work began on site April 2009, and completion is due December 2010.

Photo: September 2009