The Commons Elizabeth Flannery Julie Keaty Allison Mennella Lee Sigman
What is the information commons?  
A place for collaboration, connectivity, and community  
Loyola Information Commons  http://www.flickr.com/photos/michaelsphotos/2406552874/sizes/m/in/photostream/
Integrates the social and the academic   OSU Information Commons http://www.flickr.com/photos/dieverdog/2697960301/
Heart of the Campus   U of I Quad http://www.flickr.com/photos/woody24/2798352717/sizes/m/in/photostream/
Accommodates patrons lifestyles    Loyola Cafe http://www.flickr.com/photos/kongtemplation/2909666853/sizes/m/in/photostream/
And more... Not library centric Emphasizes the inclusion of patrons Connects patrons with information Provides collaborative spaces A common point for information A hub of activity Emphasizes the creation and construction of knowledge Integrates the library with the community  http://www.library.illinois.edu/ugl/lc/more.html
What are the motives to create an ideal commons?  
Physical   D.H. Hill Library http://www.flickr.com/photos/ncsulearningcommons/2388033846/sizes/m/in/photostream/
Technological   http://www.flickr.com/photos/yanajenn/4693925999/sizes/m/in/photostream/
Environmental   Green Roof http://www.flickr.com/photos/chicago2016/2757155721/sizes/m/in/photostream/
Needs of the patrons!!  
Planning Process  
Before...   Cudahy Library at Loyola http://www.flickr.com/photos/kschwoe/3045797967/sizes/m/in/photostream/
...After   Loyola Information Commons http://www.flickr.com/photos/tomspix/3730762930/sizes/m/in/photostream/
Partnerships in the Information Commons
Why is partnership essential?
Nazareth College http://www.flickr.com/photos/nazarethcie/5204493529/in/set-72157625335970633/ Essential component of the computer workstation environment
The HUB at William T. Young Library http://staceygreenwell.blogspot.com/2010/07/happy-birthday-uncommon-commons.html Students/Patrons need both research and technological assistance
http://www.flickr.com/photos/thehubatwts/3292428219/sizes/m/in/photostream/ Offer different perspectives for improving service
Other Reasons:     Help resolve problems more quickly  Allow for more accurate referrals     Remove barriers between departments with different cultures and values to meet the needs of a combined user audience
What Kind of Partnerships are Needed in the Information Commons?
Basics:   Reference Librarians   Information Technology Staff   Students/Patrons   Administration/Board Members   Key Community Members   Stakeholders   Support Staff                                   Key community members/Dono rs
Other Ideas...
Sinclair Community College Library Tutoring and Learning Center http://www.flickr.com/photos/sinclairlibrary/1894156656/
University of Tennessee Library The Writing Center http://www.lib.utk.edu/refs/writingcenter.html
Sinclair Community College Library Academic Resource Center http://www.flickr.com/photos/sinclairlibrary/1454181051/sizes/m/in/photostream/
The HUB at William T. Young Library "GRUB AT THE HUB"  http://www.flickr.com/photos/thehubatwts/1408244233/commons.html
University of New Haven Library Library Cafe http://www.newhaven.edu/library/general/JazzmanCafe/
How do you create these partnerships?
  Sinclair Community College Library   Integrated Desk  http://www.flickr.com/photos/sinclairlibrary/2048506732/sizes/z/in/photostream/ Service at a single desk
    The HUB at William T. Young Library http://staceygreenwell.blogspot.com/2010/07/happy-birthday-uncommon-commons.html Service at two separate, but co-located desks
  What are some challenges partnerships face?
#culturaldivide Collaboration
http://www.kcl.ac.uk/about/structure/principal/cio.html   The creation of a "CIO" helps combat these problems
What is the Role of the "Reference Librarian" in the Information Commons?
Monterey Institute of International Studies Text-A-Librarian Service http://www.flickr.com/photos/sarspri/4267162439/sizes /z/in/photostream/ Manage everything from face to face to digital communication
 
Sinclair Community College Library Library Instruction Classroom http://www.flickr.com/photos/sinclairlibrary/1894236862/sizes/z/in/photostream/ Teachers
Hennepin County Library  "bookspace"  http://www.hclib.org/pub/bookspace/ Work easily in online spaces
The Librarian In Black Blog http://librarianinblack.net/librarianinblack/ Develop a strong online presence
Michael Stephens on Twitter  @mstephens7 http://twitter.com/#!/mstephens7 Be where students are
http://ucblibraries.colorado.edu/systems/learnCom/buffalo.htm Actual jActual job
How Marketing & Outreach How do we find out what our users want out of the information commons?          -Needs Assessments          -Surveys          -Focus Groups          -Feedback and suggestion boxes          -By talking to our patrons!
Marketing & Outreach How do we get the word out?      -Paid advertisements      -Word of mouth      -Partnerships with schools and community organizations
Feedback & Measuring Success How do we know we are serving our patrons needs?          -Watching how people use the commons          -Suggestion and feedback boxes          -Unsolicited feedback and complaints          -Usage numbers and trends   Frequent feedback is key!
The Ideal  Information Commons  
What is a library? A place to learn outside the classroom.  Leslie M. Haas, Director, Klarchek Information Commons, Loyola University
An Information Commons is…
a place for collaboration, connectivity and community University of Dayton in Ohio http://net.educause.edu/ir/library/pdf/PUB7102g.pdf
designed to support continued learning opportunities… University of Wisconsin Milwaukee  http://annelizclark.net/about.shtml
promote impromptu gatherings …
provide individual places for quiet reflection …  http://queensburycollege.com/
to provide a focal point on campus… Loyola University’s Information Commons
where the elements of meeting, collaboration, and discovery come together…
What does the ideal commons  need to have?
Flexibility http://www.psfk.com/2010/05/library-or-bookstore-new-netherlands-branch-blurs-the-line.html
Collaborative work area Connecticut College http://faculty.rwu.edu/smcmullen/ConnecticutCollege.html
Technology http://www.stthomas.edu/irt/support/labs/images/DSCN1891.jpg
YOUMedia Center at Harold Washington Library
Access to Information and Resources YOUMedia Center at Harold Washington Library
Loyola University's Information Commons
University of Toledo Information Commons Information Desk
Variety of Spaces A conceptual drawing of the Collaboratory area in York’s new learning commons http://www.yorku.ca/yfile/archive/index.asp?Article=14346
Loyola University’s Information Commons Group Study Room
LSU Health Sciences Commons A/V room https://www.lsuhsc.edu/no/library/news/?cat=31
Learning Commons Santa Clara University http://annelizclark.net/about.shtml
Red River College Commons http://annelizclark.net/about.shtml
Convenience and Easy Access
Loyola University's Information Commons
Loyola University's Information Commons
Access to Coffee! http://www.csu.edu.au/division/library/about/commons/bathurst
Loyola University’s Information Commons Cafe

Information commons 4-6

Editor's Notes

  • #59 Loyola – carpet is carpet tiles – easy to pull up to add or relocate electrical outlets – heat came through the floor too.   It needs to change as the students' needs change
  • #66 Group Study Rooms – equipped with computers, tables and whiteboards Digital Media Labs - Media checkout Hard drives Camcorders Cameras Laptops
  • #67 Have 30 of them. Got bigger tables to make room for student's stuff. Have white boards and computers. Can reserve rooms online.
  • #68 Want to practice a presentation or share notes with classmates? The Library’s third floor Commons area has flat screen televisions available for use with a laptop. Stop by the library’s circulation desk and check out the cables and instructions needed to get connected, rooms are available on a “first come” basis.
  • #69 Moveable furniture. Where students can create group and individual study areas
  • #70 Tables, lighting and room for stuff
  • #74 http://www.csu.edu.au/division/library/about/commons/bathurst