one size does NOT fit all!

By Jan E. Heckman and Mary V. Heckman University of Connecticut, Avery PointIAMSLIC 34th Conference: Suva, Fiji, September 14 - 18, 2008

Outline of our discussionThe Avery Point campus of the University of

ConnecticutThe concept of a Learning commons in the

literatureThe Learning Commons at the University of

ConnecticutOrigin of the Learning Commons at Avery PointThe Learning Commons at Avery Point todayThe future of the Learning Commons at Avery

PointLessons we learned

and particularly to the Avery Point Regional campus, located in Groton, CT, USA.

The Avery Point campus of the University of Connecticut

Unique background creates a unique present reality.

Morton Plant Estate

Are these some of our non-traditional students?

No, this is Morton Plant and his wife, Sarah, in front of the Branford House (the mansion which is part of the estate the campus used to be).

Beauty…

Overlooking Long Island Sound

… and the Beast!The Library at

Avery Point(But don’t judge a book by it’s cover!)

Avery Point Academic BuildingLegacy of the United States Coast Guard facilities built after 1941.

Avery Point’s Academic CenterLast semester

Operating at full capacity

This semester The expanded Academic Center

in the library literature

Information Commons versus Learning Commons• an Information Commons supports learning by providing hi-tech access to information•a Learning Commons supports active learning and the presence of other academic units in the library.

• Main Library efforts to create a Learning Commons• Mutual desire between Academic Center and Library with first focus being information literacy• Monthly meetings to share information• Two day workshop in Sept. 2007 on the subject of plagiarism, copyright, and other issues•Learning Commons planning committee born in part from previous collaboration

The Learning Commons at Avery Point is a work in progress considering the unknowns about the renovation of the Library and how much of a Learning Commons we can create.

Still progress is being made with what we have and plans are being created for a facility that the campus and students will be proud of.

Virtual aspectsThe Learning Commons web page

http://www.averypoint.uconn.edu/avery_point/learning_commons.html

The Learning Commons wikihttp://learningcommons.wetpaint.com/

Library bloghttp://averypointlibraryblog.wordpress.com/

HuskyCThttp://lms.uconn.edu

Physical aspectsLibrarian office hoursUse of library space for tutoringUse of library space for faculty/student

meetingsCross-training of student staffsFrequent meetings of professional staffs

DistanceThe Library and the Academic Center are close to one another, but distinct buildings.

This is a view of the Library from the Academic Center.

… AND TOMORROW

Original plan for a new Academic Building and Library at Avery Point

Ambitious, but it would have been nice!

Photograph from Microsoft ClipArt

Current plan in the budget of FY0809 ???

At least for a librarian’s office, it just needs a data port and electricity.

Photo attributed to photographer BRAYDAWG (no date) from source Flickr.com as viewed on 8 September 2008 on everystockphoto.com (http://www.everystockphoto.com/photo.php?imageId=355808) held under attribution license (http://www.everystockphoto.com/photo.php?imageId=355808)

The real future

An Information Commons developing into a Learning Commons as physical space is shared in the library.

An electronic classroom used for library instruction and other classes.

Other academic units using the spaceCollaborative work stations for studentsRooms for practicing presentations

Strengths

Weaknesses

Strengths WeaknessesIt’s operational without a

budget, thus it works without costing more than our time.

With our present virtual model, we are forced to work together rather than assume collaboration based on physical proximity.

We are still separate and will be unless or until we are physically integrated. Students still need to span two different spaces to take advantage of all services we provide, and there is no way to provide all services seamlessly.

To make it more than a virtual learning commons we will need funding for both physical plant and program.