Academic Libraries 2005

The Information Commons: Adapting to the Culture of Net Generation Students

Thursday, November 10 – Friday, November 11, 2005

The Saratoga Hotel and Conference Center, Saratoga Springs, New York

Brought to you by

NY3Rs Association

Academic and Special Libraries Section, NYLA

Presentation Summaries

• Net Gen Students, Learning, and Libraries, presented by Joan Lippincott
  Our technology-savvy students bring high expectations to campus regarding connectedness, availability of digital content, and a 24X7 environment. This talk will explore characteristics of Net Gen students and suggest ways in which libraries can assist in providing content, services, and physical spaces that will spark the imagination of students and provide them with the skills they need to become full participants in the Information Society. The talk will highlight the links between students, learning, and libraries that are enabled through digital technologies.

• Relationships and Campus Politics in Building the Information Commons, presented by Barbara Dewey/Brice Bible
  The Information Commons is a collaborative partnership between the Office of Information Technology and the University Libraries to connect students and faculty with the tools and information to be successful learners and teachers in the 21st century. Our presentation will discuss the following: · Establishing the vision, guiding principles, and philosophy · Cultivating support from students, faculty, and campus administrators · Building a new “circle of service” model · Blending differing IT and Library cultures. Proving the concept through “boot-strapping” resources · Using the results as a model for campus-wide information services.

· Models of Successful Information Commons, presented by Suzanne Thorin

This presentation will describe the ingredients that have produced successful information or learning commons, campus partnerships, and also growing digital scholarship services for faculty. Today’s students are demanding new services, and they expect the library to provide the services and the facilities that enable them to be productive in a digital world. Faculty members increasingly give assignments that require collaboration among students. To create and shape work products together, students need spaces and technology configured for group work. Within learning environments, students also want quiet spaces where they can be in proximity with others, yet study alone. And, today’s Net Generation students, who often work throughout the night, are comfortable with technology. To create new environments, academic libraries across the country have added or reconfigured spaces. In many of the new spaces, the ability to use traditional library resources in conjunction with technology draws students into the library rather than to technology-only spaces. For funding, libraries have sometimes shared expenses with information technology and academic units on their campuses when campus funding was not available. In some cases, library and information technology staff work together to provide services and to manage the facilities.

• Engineering Success through Partnerships, presented by Crit Stuart

Georgia Tech Library aspires to be a great facility for student learning. Stuart reports on three years of experiments centered in a learning commons. Colleges and universities frequently fail to provide compelling learning spaces. The good news is that libraries are logical entities to fill this gap. We find that learning commons, if thoughtfully conceived and nurtured, can be epicenters of student learning and suggest next steps in needed library transformations and partnerships.

In order to create compelling learning spaces, we must sustain meaningful dialogue with students, faculty and others who care passionately about learning outcomes. Students asked to comment on their learning needs consistently mention secure and inspiring spaces that qualify as neutral ground, imbued to refresh mind and body, with both active and quiet zones, and with robust technology and assistance. They want to see-and-be-seen in the act of learning. Students tell us that academic libraries are logical destinations for their productive output, academic socializing, critical commentary and rehearsal. Shall we attempt this by ourselves?

Libraries pushing the student learning agenda frequently seek partnerships with other campus agencies for whom student recruitment, retention and success are paramount. As we observe how students learn, we recognize the importance of just-in-time tutoring, instruction and intervention, and of providing highly skilled assistance with emerging technologies and software applications loosely referred to as multimedia. A strong first partner can be the campus information technology group.

• Planning for Computer/Digital Information Access & Related Decisions, presented by Barbra Higginbotham
  How many commons will your library have, and where should they be? What activities will these spaces support? How to approach space planning and layout? What about staffing - how many people will you need, and what types?

• Library Staff Reaction, presented by Maureen Lindstrom
  The Information Commons at E. H. Butler Library made its official debut on the Buffalo State College campus in September 2004. Despite the fact that the library did not get a new building, more space, a different design, or even new desks or computers, as soon as the “Information Commons” sign was hung on the wall, there was a noticeable, positive change in attitude, motivation, and level of enthusiasm among the staff. Is the Information Commons just a catchy phrase meant to market traditional academic library services and resources or does it actually represent a badly needed change in identity for librarians and public services staff? This presentation will chronicle the transformation of a conventional, quiet, ordinary library into a vibrant, active, cultural hub of the campus and will show how the Information Commons has allowed librarians and library staff to redefine their roles as catalogers of essential college services and resources.