As Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr. signed the bill that will fund UVSC's new library, there was much talk of the college's efforts to become a university.

The $48 million digital learning center received all but $1.25 million of its funding from the Legislature this year, and Huntsman was on campus to make it official.

President William Sederburg referred to Utah Valley State College as "the university, or the college as we like to call it here." Huntsman also hinted at the change, saying a "different status" might be in the college's future. Lt. Gov. Gary Herbert also mentioned university status. "I think that's part of the vision process we have here ahead of us."

The board of regents has identified library space as a challenge UVSC faces as it tries to navigate the name change.

Huntsman said the digital learning center would serve as an "intellectual infrastructure" and thanked legislators for working together to make it happen. "This is a memorable day in the history of this institution."

UVSC administrators pushed for three years to get funding for the 180,000-square-foot building, which will propel the college from the bottom of the list of library space per student in the state.

It will be five times the size of the current library and will more than double the number of computers from 57 to 140. The number of circulating volumes will triple, from 100,000 to about 300,000, and the four group-study rooms currently available at the college's library will be replaced by 60.

Groundbreaking could be in six to eight months, and the building could be completed by spring 2009.

Kris Coles, the new student body executive vice president, said students will have a library to call their own, rather than having to visit Brigham Young University.

"Literally the world's research will be at our fingertips," Coles said. "It will tie students academically and socially to the campus and allow the community to become closer to the campus.

"This will be our library, and we will not have to go any further than our campus to increase our education."

There was one tense moment before Huntsman signed the bill, when he accidentally quoted the funding amount at $46,750. Sederburg quickly corrected him but later promised the state would get its money's worth. "We're going to deliver a product that you'll be proud of."

Huntsman also signed a proclamation marking the 25th anniversary of the UVSC Foundation, a fundraising arm of the college. Herbert, an original board member, said the foundation, along with the college's presidents, have inspired UVSC's growth.

"They've had vision, and they've elevated where we are and where we're going."

Anna Chang-Yen can be reached at 344-2549 or annac@heraldextra.com.

This story appeared in The Daily Herald on page A1.