Information Commons: An Overview

Elizabeth Winiarz, UMass Dartmouth,Claire T. Carney Library

Library Role is evolving

• Library and IT may be combined into one unit• Collections are moving to electronic format,

space is being freed up – everyone wants to move into the library building

• To maintain/increase gate counts libraries may be relaxing rules on food/noise

• Educause may guide the evolution

Students have evolved

• Have had web access all their lives• Many students who reach university have not

read more than 10 books in their lifetime!• Cell phones, text messaging, Facebook are

normal• Helicopter parents

Learning styles have evolved

• Students multi-task – while searching google on a computer they may be texting and listening to an i-Pod at the same time

• Undergraduates work in groups most of the time

• They like to google or search, look at links, search more, then prepare a powerpoint show

• They must look at images frequently

University Policy may have changed

• Customer service model

• Competition for students

• Interdisciplinary programs

So......

• What is an information commons and why should we have one?

A venue for delivery of information literacy

A place for students to do their work where services are all in one place

A place for student/student, student/faculty and faculty/faculty interactions

A one-stop shop to serve customers

The Information Commons supports:

the mission of the college or university

the mission of the library

active learning

learning through conversation

What may be found in an information commons?Fully loaded workstations, plus wireless access and tables to bring laptopsLots and lots of electrical outletsResearch assistance – reference librarian (call it research assistance?)Technical assistance – IT helpGroup work tables, noise permitted and encouragedSingle workstations for individualsPractice rooms for presentationsComfy, cosy areas, flexible furnishingsFood, cafeSeminar roomsInstruction roomsMultimedia areaScanners, printersConsultation service for faculty – Center for teaching and learning, Faculty space for brainstorming for grant

opportunitiesLanguage labVideoconferencing facilitiesDigilab – Playground for faculty to practice using Wii and other technologiesBinoculars to birdwatch through the library window, 3D goggles – walk through ancient Rome

What the Information Commons should not be:

Just another computer lab

Just a social space

Librarian role

Librarians MUST be part of the Information Commons

Market the role of librarians to students who have never been to libraries

Work with IT to demonstrate how the librarian’s knowledge complements IT capabilities

Service desks

Service points need to be clearly labeledNo perception that one is more in chargeDecide how much cross training will be provided

Keep mission in mind

To support learning overall

To support production

To support active learning

Invite appropriate units to move to the information commons before someone else grabs the space!!

Don’t Forget!

Not everyone prefers group study all the time

Allocate and clearly mark areas of the building for quiet study

New ideas to bring in studentsHave a screen showing current news feedHave a collection of foreign newspapers for foreign studentsHave contests offering prizes e.g. UPenn had a mashup contest.

Create a parody of a hollywood film. Prize was an expensive video camera. Movie night showed al the entries

Promote collections – use a digitized image from the print collection as a screen saver

Create a library or librarian blogDisplay student workLockers with electrical outlets to charge laptops while in storage

Design and Aesthetics

Is the space engaging?Use colour and lightPost adequate signsArtNew styles of furnitureBuild in flexibility – moveable furniture, place

the electrical grid in the ceiling so that outlets can move if you reconfigure the furniture below

Assessment

UMass Amherst “Learning Commons Assessment” worked with Provost’s office

Georgia Tech – google Georgia Tech and Learning Commons

U Rochester report Foster & Gibbons “Qualitative Study”

Use more than Gate CountsLook at how you are partnering with learning

and research goals

Vinaka

Thank you