U. of Iowa, Early Adopter, Takes the Next Step

Way back at the dawn of the Commons Era, before Phil Tompkins dubbed it so, the University of Iowa rolled out the Information Arcade in 1992.  Now UI is engaged in a new enterprise: the Learning Commons:

"In the fall of 2013, University of Iowa students will discover a tech-infused, 24-hour, comfy study space and one-stop academic help center…with good coffee.

Designed with significant student input, the new Learning Commons will provide an “intellectual hub” with room for 500-plus students. The 37,000-square-foot facility in the Main Library is the product of a unique partnership among Information Technology Services (ITS), University Libraries, and the Office of the Provost.

“The Learning Commons is focused, first and foremost, on furthering the academic success of students,” says Nancy Baker, university librarian. “The staff will provide students with a ‘concierge’ experience. They’ll answer common academic, library, and technology questions and point students to the resources they need to succeed, like help with their research, writing, or tutoring.”  

Video Walkthrough on YouTube

Better Late Than...

Last May, 2012, University of Calgary hosted two landmark conferences. Good for you if got to one of them.  If you were at both, you either live in Calgary or your travel budget should be investigated.

The 6th Canadian Learning Commons Conference was May 7-9. Nineteen presentations have been archived and you can browse them at: http://tinyurl.com/a9ag4bf  The next CLCC will be June 9-11, 2014 at Bishop's U., Quebec

Designing Libraries for the 21st Century, May 17-19, was a co-production of U. of Calgary and CNI.  Links to nine of the presentations are here: http://library.ucalgary.ca/lib21/presentations. Joseph Rondinelli's slides, with highly detailed renderings and photos of five Shepley Bulfinch projects (Duke, Harvard, Johns Hopkins, Teachers' College and Atlanta U. Ctr) are at: http://tinyurl.com/aryqkmy

Grand Opening at San Jose State

January 31, 2013 is the date for the opening of the Student Learning and Research Commons at Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Library, San Jose State U.

Library Journal: Year in Architecture 2012

The diner booth as a learning space started at U. Penn's Weigle Information Commons. It is fast becoming a standard element in academic libraries.

That's the reference desk in the background at Purdue's Parrish Library of Management and Economics, one of five very different takes on the ever-evolving commons concept in LJ's feature story on new and renovated academic libraries.  The others are:

IDEA Commons at U. of Illinois - Chicago

Massachusetts Maritime Academy's ABS Information Commons

The CUBE at Colorado State U. Morgan Library

The Center for Science and Social Science Information at Yale U.

Windward CC Library Learning Commons Grand Opening

Windward Community College (Hawaii) celebrated the grand opening of the first "green" library in the U. of Hawaii System on August 29.  The building's Hawaiian name, Hale Laakea, means Hall of Enlightenment.  The college hopes to attain LEED Silver certification.

Library Learning Commons Grand Opening: